the first step in preparing your speech is

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• Public Speaking

How to Prepare a Speech

Last Updated: May 6, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Patrick Muñoz . Patrick is an internationally recognized Voice & Speech Coach, focusing on public speaking, vocal power, accent and dialects, accent reduction, voiceover, acting and speech therapy. He has worked with clients such as Penelope Cruz, Eva Longoria, and Roselyn Sanchez. He was voted LA's Favorite Voice and Dialect Coach by BACKSTAGE, is the voice and speech coach for Disney and Turner Classic Movies, and is a member of Voice and Speech Trainers Association. There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 730,568 times.

Preparing a speech isn't difficult if you have a process you can follow. There are tried-and-true steps for putting together a talk, so relax and read on to get your speech in order and your speech anxiety under control.

Sample Speeches

Starting With Your Audience

• Personal narrative. A narrative is just another word for story. If you're asked to tell a story about yourself, find out if the intention is to use something that's happened to you in order to teach a lesson, convey a moral, offer inspiration or simply to entertain.
• Informative speech. [3] X Research source There are two kinds of informative speeches: process and expository. If you're charged with doing a process speech, the idea is for you to explain how something is done, how something is made or how something works. You take your audience step-by-step through the process. If your speech is meant to be expository, your job is to take what might be a complex subject and break it down into sections as a way of educating your audience about the topic.
• Persuasive speech. [4] X Research source If you're meant to persuade, then your job is to convince your audience to adopt a particular way of thinking, a belief or a behavior that you advocate for.
• Ceremonial speech. [5] X Research source Ceremonial speeches run the gamut from wedding toasts to eulogies, from graduation speeches to farewell addresses. Many of these speeches are intended to be short and the focus is often on entertaining, inspiring or increasing the audience's appreciation for someone or something.

• Read the newspaper. If you can find a way to link your speech topic to something that's happening in the news, you can highlight the relevance of what you have to say to your audience.
• Translate numbers. Using statistics in your speech can be impactful, but they can be even more meaningful if you translate them in a way the audience can understand. For example, you could say that worldwide, 7.6 million people die of cancer every year, but to make it more relatable, you might want to follow it up by saying that that number represents the entire population of Switzerland.
• Express the benefits. It's a good idea to let an audience know exactly what they'll get out of your speech, so that they're primed to listen. If they'll learn how to save money, tell them. If the information you're about to share will make their lives easier in some way, make that clear. If they'll gain a new appreciation of someone or something, let them know.

Researching and Writing Your Speech

• Outlines can be written in complete sentences or they can be a series of abbreviated phrases and reminders. Another approach is to begin by writing complete sentences and then transferring your outline on to note cards on which you abbreviate those sentences using just the words and memory prompts you need.
• Pull out your old English textbooks and review things like similes, metaphors, alliteration and other kinds of figurative language. These kinds of devices can add to the impact of a ceremonial speech.
• Beware one pitfall of the scripted speech: having a page full of words in front of you can cause you to fall into the trap of simply reading from your script without every looking up, making eye contact or engaging with the audience in any way. Thorough practice should help to eliminate your chances of falling into this trip.

• Offer a preview. Think of a preview as kind of the "coming attractions" of your speech. Plan to tell your audience the main points you'll talk about in your speech. There's not need to go into any detail here; you'll get to that when you come to the body of your speech. You can write a preview that's simply one sentence in length to cover what you need to say here.
• Body. The body is where the "meat" of your speech resides. The points you outlined or the information you scripted make up the body. There are several ways to organize the information within the body of your speech--in time sequence, in step order, from most important point to least important point, problem-solution, to name just a few. Choose an organizational pattern that makes sense based on your speech goal.
• Give a summary. One of the ways an audience remembers what a speech was about is through intentional repetition. In your introduction, you gave a preview of what you'd be talking about. In your speech body, you talked about those things. Now, in your conclusion, you remind your audience what you talked about. Simply offer a brief review of the main points you touched on in your speech.
• End with a clincher. A clincher is a memorable, definitive statement that gives your speech a sense of closure. One easy way to do this is to write a clincher that refers back to what you said in the attention-getter of your speech. This helps bring your presentation full circle and provides a sense of closure.

Choosing Visual Aids

• Don't write everything you plan to say on your slides. We've all suffered through speeches where the speaker did little more that read off of his or her slides. That's boring for the audience, and they soon disengage. Instead, use word charts to preview, review or highlight key information. Remember, the sides should be a supplement to what you're going to say rather than an exact copy of it.
• Make your slides readable. Use a font size that's easy for your audience to read and don't overcrowd your slides. If your audience can't see or get through the material on your slides, they won't have served any purpose.
• Use animations sparingly. Having graphics fly around, zoom in and out ,and change colors can be engaging but can also be distracting. Be careful not to overdo the special effects. Your slides should be a supporting player rather than the star of the show.

Rehearsing Your Speech

• Leave yourself time to practice. If you're given to procrastinating, you could find yourself with very little or no time to practice before you deliver your speech, which could leave you feeling unprepared and anxious.

• Look at your audience. Almost nothing does more to keep an audience engaged than eye contact from a speaker. As you rehearse your speech, be sure to look at the family members or friends who've agreed to be your audience. It takes a bit of practice to be able to look at your outline, script or note cards, capture a thought or two and then come up and deliver that information while looking at your audience. It's yet another reason why rehearsal time is so important.
• If you don't have the opportunity to practice in front of people, be sure that when you do rehearse, that you say your speech aloud. You don't want your speech day to be the first time you hear the words of your speech coming out of your mouth. Plus, speaking out loud gives you a chance to double-check and correct any mispronunciations, practice articulating your words clearly and confirm the timing of your speech (We speak more quickly when we simply recite a speech in our heads).

Reducing Speech Anxiety

• Clench and release. Ball up your fists really, really tight and hold for a second or two and then release. Repeat this a few times. You can do the same thing by squeezing the muscles in your calves very tightly and then releasing. With each release, you should feel a reduction in your adrenaline-induced symptoms.
• Take deep breaths. The adrenaline in your system causes you to take more shallow breaths that, in turn, increase your feeling of anxiety. You need to break the cycle. Take a deep breath through your nose and allow the air to fill your belly. Once your belly is full, let your breath fill and expand your ribcage. Finally, allow your breath to move fully into your chest. Open your mouth slightly and begin to exhale starting first with the air in your chest, then the air in your ribcage and finally the breath in your belly. Repeat this inhale-exhale cycle five times.

• Negative thoughts are incredibly powerful--one estimate is that you need five positive thoughts to counteract every one negative thought you have, so steer clear of them.

How Do You Practice a Speech Effectively?

Expert Q&A

Reader Videos

• Use your own language style. Do not use the words that you have never said in your life. Take it easy. Thanks Helpful 6 Not Helpful 0
• Try to keep the majority of your topic entertaining, or at least interesting, so that the audience won't get bored. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 0
• Make sure your speech hangs together well and makes sense. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ Patrick Muñoz. Voice & Speech Coach. Expert Interview. 12 November 2019.
• ↑ https://westsidetoastmasters.com/resources/powerspeak/ch03.html
• ↑ https://www.comm.pitt.edu/informative-speaking
• ↑ https://www.comm.pitt.edu/persuasive-speaking
• ↑ https://opentext.ku.edu/speakupcallin/chapter/chapter-15-ceremonial-speaking/
• ↑ https://www.comm.pitt.edu/oral-comm-lab/audience-analysis
• ↑ https://liu.cwp.libguides.com/c.php?g=913567&p=6581500
• ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/5-most-effective-methods-for-avoiding-plagiarism/
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/speeches/
• ↑ https://www.toastmasters.org/resources/public-speaking-tips/preparing-a-speech
• ↑ https://counseling.uiowa.edu/self-help/30-ways-to-manage-speaking-anxiety/
• ↑ https://fscj.pressbooks.pub/publicspeaking/chapter/benefits-of-visual-aids/

About This Article

To prepare a speech, start by writing an introduction that grabs the audience's attention with a surprising or interesting fact, quote, or question. Then, include your most important points in the body of your speech, making them as clear and easy-to-follow as possible so your audience stays tuned in. Finally, wrap up your speech with a conclusion that summarizes your main points and ends with a memorable, definitive statement. To learn the best ways to research and outline your speech, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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• Delivery Techniques →

How to Prepare for a Speech: Strategies for a Successful Speech

Are you nervous about your first public speaking experience?

Or are you excited and can't wait to express your thoughts to the audience?

Whatever the case, it is crucial to learn how to prepare for a speech so you can deliver a successful, heartfelt oration.

Whether speaking in a seminar, a board meeting, or a classroom, the better you prepare, the more confident you feel.

So, what are different useful strategies that can help you prepare better? Let's find out!

Things to Consider Before Preparing the Speech

There is a lot more that goes into preparing a speech than simply writing some notes and reading them out loud in front of the audience.

Here are some crucial things to consider before starting to write your speech.

Learn Your Audience

Knowing your target audience is essential to prepare an excellent speech that adequately conveys its message. You first need to check where you will deliver the speech and who your audience is. 

Learn about your audience's different backgrounds and cultures . Avoid making cultural remarks during the speech, as what seems insignificant to you may stir others' emotions.

Try to find out their interests to make your speech light and relatable. Find out the age range of your audience. Speaking to young students requires a different game plan than speaking to experienced professionals.

Learn about the audience's knowledge and expertise on the subject of the speech. Is it something new, or are they well-versed on the subject?

It is best to avoid using thick jargon if the audience is inexperienced and new to the field, whereas with an experienced audience, you can take things to the next level.

Knowing your audience will also help you include relatable experiences from your own life, making the speech more interesting and fun to listen to.

Furthermore, from the audience's point of view, there must be a reason to listen to someone speak. In essence, you have to make sure that the speech you're going to give will offer value to the audience and their current situations. This feeds directly into the next point.

Understand the Purpose of Speech

What do you wish to achieve with this speech? What message do you need to deliver? The answer to these questions will help you shape your speech.

Take your audience on a step-by-step journey with your speech, and in the end, ensure they understand your end goal.

Sometimes, you want to deliver specific messages as is, whereas other times, you only wish to convey a thought-provoking speech.

Knowing the purpose or purposes of the speech will help you include interesting and relatable anecdotes that draw the audience's interest.

Try Out the Speaking Medium Beforehand

Technological advancements have touched every medium. You may present the speech to your audience face to face or via a virtual medium .

For instance, in the recent past, many companies and organizations conducted their conferences, meetings, and interviews via Zoom .

It is best to know what your speaking medium is beforehand. Knowing whether you will be presenting on the stage in front of a live audience, speaking via video platform, or going on the TV or radio can help you prepare accordingly.

Calculate the Duration of Your Speech

Knowing the duration of the speech is essential to prepare a targeted, engaging speech. The preparation for an hour-long speech is different from that of a five-minute-long speech.

Knowing the time duration will help you understand how many anecdotes, interesting facts, or examples you can include and how to structure your speech, so you keep the audience's attention throughout.

How to Prepare for a Speech

Next comes up writing the speech. A speech consists of the introduction of the subject, the main body, and a conclusion. 

An engaging and meaningful speech contains a mix of facts, statistics, interesting anecdotes, fun phrases, and loads of relatable content. Here are a few easy and valuable tips for writing a powerful speech.

Step #1: Thoroughly Research Your Topic

A full grasp of the topic is essential to delivering a successful speech . Knowing every detail of the subject matter will give you the confidence to stand in front of your audience.

Whether you are presenting as a student in your classroom or as a president in your board meeting, the topic's knowledge will give you authority over the listeners. The same goes for presenting a subject with other group members.

You must thoroughly know the issue, whether you are presenting the introductory, central, or concluding parts of the speech. This knowledge will also help you later in the question/ answer session.

Step #2: Start With an Interesting Story or Question

Capture your audience's attention with an enticing and ear-catching introduction. Avoid going straight up to introduce your subject. Instead, start your speech with something fun, light, and breezy. 

You can share an interesting fact, include any amusing little personal incident, or propose a mind-boggling idea.

The first few minutes of your speech are essential as they can make or break the audience's attention to what comes ahead. Deliver the most important pointers of your speech within this period and let the audience know they are in for a treat.

You might also like: 10 Engaging Ways to Start a Speech

Step #3: Take the Hook Down the Body of the Speech

Indeed, the first impression is the last impression . But all the high of the attention-grabbing introduction can go down the drain if the body of the speech lacks meaning, pull, and purpose.

Hence, it is necessary to give every part of your speech equal importance during preparation and at the time of delivery as well.

You will present your speech's main idea or purpose in the body. Therefore, you must make your content clear, easy to understand, intentional, and well-organized. Avoid adding unnecessary information.

Here's how to ensure the body of your speech is as good as your introduction.

How to Ensure Interest in Your Speech

• Make a String of Ideas : Create a chain of thoughts leading to the main idea or purpose of the sitting. An unorganized and haphazard speech will distract your audience, and they will lose interest. Aim for this part of your speech to connect with your audience .For instance, if you are preparing for a motivational speech , then this part should allow the audience to connect with your speech emotionally. They should start thinking about the main idea and purpose of this speech.
• Be Logical and Coherent : You should be logical, to the point, and clear while introducing and connecting different concepts. Make a central connection point of additional facts, statements, and ideas in the speech, and combine them with the main topic.
• Repeat Your Main Point Several Times : Repeat your main point throughout the main body without being obvious. Let the idea sync in the back of the audience's minds. Avoid using the same words repeatedly; use synonyms or relatable analogies instead. Listening to the repetitive logic will help the audience grab the core idea.
• Avoid Adding More Than Three Points : Try adding no more than three points to make the speech simple and easy to remember. Plus, include relevant examples explaining these points. 
• Properly Arrange Different Ideas : Go through the central part of the speech and check if all the ideas or pointers are arranged systematically. The central part should take the listener on a journey that concludes with the final part of the speech.
• Write Main Part Before Introduction : The body comes next to the introduction of the speech. But it is best to research and write this part before the introduction. Writing this part will give you a clear idea of what you will say in the introduction and the conclusion.

Step #4: Remind the Audience of the Speech's Purpose in the Conclusion

A well-written and efficiently delivered speech keeps the audience captivated throughout.

If it's effectively presented, a speech hooks the listeners right from the introductory sentence, goes hand in hand through the central body, and becomes part of the memory with a great ending.

Hence, continue working on the speech's conclusion with the same zeal and effort as you have worked on the introduction and the body.

The primary purpose of the conclusion is to wrap up the whole speech. Recap your speech here and convey the main idea in simple and understandable words.

Create a little summary of the pointers you spoke about in the main body and condense them into simple phrases that the audience can remember more easily.

As stated earlier, every part of the speech holds immense significance.

So, prepare a coherent, clear, and firm conclusion . Adding lousy or unnecessary comments in this section can break the spell you created with a powerful introduction and body.

Useful Tips for Effective Delivery Style

After preparing a well-researched and well-written speech comes the delivery style. Public speaking is especially challenging for introverts and shy people. On the other hand, enthusiastic and lively people may need to tone down a little.

No matter your personality, you can confidently present before any audience after learning a few basic tips and tricks for an effective delivery style.

Work on Your Body Language

Before you even say a single word, the first thing the audience will judge you on is your body language. How you present plays a crucial role in how the audience will remember you.

Many people are naturally confident and can lead the room with their charming presence. Contrarily, many people need to work on their body language, gestures , and delivery style. Whichever category you fall into, it is essential to practice.

You can practice your speech in front of the mirror to learn how your body moves. Stand straight and upright, move around, use your hands and show your authority. Learn where you can improve and keep on practicing until you're satisfied.

Practice With Your Friends

Indeed, practicing before a mirror is a fruitful exercise; but practicing before a group of people can boost your confidence.

With this practice, you won't be overwhelmed by the live audience when you present your speech.

Moreover, this practice will help you observe the reactions of the people. Plus, your friends can give you feedback on your speech and body language .

A Toastmasters club is perfect for this.

Use Visual Aids

Visual aids such as PowerPoint slides, short videos, or pictures can help convey the message effectively.

Instead of only imagining what you are saying, the visuals aid people see what you are saying.

If you plan to use any visual aid during the speech, rehearse with them beforehand.

Maintain Eye Contact With the Audience

Look directly into the eyes of your audience when speaking. This gesture will reflect that you are confident about what you are speaking. Plus, your audience will remain engaged with your content.

The audience will lose interest if you start fumbling or looking timid. So, don't remain standing in a single place; move around, and move your eyes all over the room.

Related: Importance of Eye Contact in Public Speaking

Be Natural but Interesting With Your Voice

Use the rise and fall of your voice wisely. But try not to be overdramatic. Avoid sounding too mechanical, and use your natural tone.

Many speakers get over-excited during delivering the speech and increase their speed. Don't go too fast or too slow; neither sounds pleasant. Try to add natural pauses while speaking.

Try to add relevant expressions in your sentences using your voice. If you are asking a question, it has a question mark at the end. Similarly, when there is an exclamation mark at the end, then exclaim.

Remember Good Looks Always Grab Attention

If there is a dress code, then follow that dress code. Otherwise, be well-dressed and look smart and sharp.

If you dress up too casually or inappropriately, you will lose the audience's interest without speaking a single word.

Final Thoughts: How to Prepare for a Speech

Public speaking can be thrilling for some while difficult for others. Whether you are shy or are brilliant at expressing your thoughts, delivering a triumphant speech requires preparation.

At first, it may seem exhausting to deliver the best speech possible.

But once you get a grip of the basics of speech preparation, it will be a seamless journey ahead. Following the strategies mentioned above can help you deliver the message effectively.

Preparing to Write a Speech

Quick links, understanding the speech genre.

As you begin writing your speech, you must understand the speech genre , conduct research , and develop an outline .

Understanding the type of speech you’re giving is the first step in the speech writing process.

If you already know the genre of your speech, then feel free to move on towards the next step. If not, start with the prompt. The prompt often identifies the genre of speech. Does your prompt give the speech genre?

If not, here are a few principles to help you figure out the speech genre:

• Highlight keywords. Words such as analyze , explain , and argue tell you something about the nature of the speech. Look up the keywords in a dictionary to be precise.
• Look for goals laid out in the prompt. Does the prompt tell you to “ Update the classroom on the political events in Syria,” “ Report your research on the Epstein–Barr virus,”or “ Explain how to do something you do well”? These prompts exemplify informative goals. “ Persuade the audience of what you think is the best way to succeed on a mission trip” is explicitly a prompt for a persuasive/argumentative speech.
• If you’re completely lost, ask your professor or visit the Rhetoric Center—and bring your prompt!

The two most common types of speeches are informative and argumentative.

For further information on the fundamentals of these different types of speeches, we recommend Public Speaking - Oakland Campus: Types of Speeches by University Library System, University of Pittsburgh. Click on either “Informative” or “Argumentative.”

However, because more speaking genres exist (stories, tributes, eulogies, etc.) it’s imperative to highlight keywords , look for goals in the prompt , and seek help when needed .

After understanding the assignment you’ll know better what you need to research. At this stage it’s important to remember principles and goals of information literacy. Ensuring credibility of the resources used is a primary goal of information literacy.

It’s important that when researching, you consider the credibility of the resources you’re using. Unreliable sources will send your audience a message that you are unreliable. This Tedx Talk breaks down how to identify a fake news article; the principles can be applied to any research.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• Who is this publication and are they credible?
• Who is the author? Do they have accessible information about them and are they a credible source?
• With both of these in mind, is this article/journal/website credible? If you have any doubt, then err on the safe side.

In addition, you’ll need to find enough sources with enough varying perspectives that you can build your own expertise and credibility.

The resources available on Hekman Library will prove useful in the research process. In particular, we recommend you use the following links on Hekman’s page :

• “How to ‘Search Start’”
• “Finding Databases”
• “Accessing Articles”
• “Research Help”

Additional Resources Related to Research

• Yale College Writing Center : Eight Strategies for Using Sources.
• Colorado State University, WAC Clearinghouse : Evaluating Sources.
• Calvin University—What Not To Do : a document about what not to do while researching.
• Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL) : Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing.

For most speech classes, the outline is the closest thing to a full script you will have. Some speeches are read from a printed text; some are memorized. But most academic speeches are extemporaneous: the speaker knows the speech well enough to deliver it without reading it, and an outline makes this possible.

(Please note: we’re talking about the final structure of the full-bodied speech, not the keyword notecards you deliver the speech from.)

The outline is a version of the complete speech and is your most important planning document. It is your draft of the full speech, just like a full draft of a paper. For papers an outline simply guides the writer in the writing process. For speeches the outline is reasonably identical with the speech (with slight wording changes).

A speech outline includes the general wording of every sentence, including transitions, and is written in complete sentences (the exact format may different from one teacher to another). If you’re turning the speech in to an instructor, the instructor will usually ask you to include a “specific purpose” and “thesis” before the introduction.

You don’t use the speech outline during the speech. For information regarding the version of the outline used during the speech itself, please see the notecard section on Delivery.

This is an informative speech on the differences between Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy. This outline isn’t perfect: it should include more transition sentences, and the introduction and conclusion are too short. But overall, it displays the content and structure.

This next outline , on the medicinal and culinary properties of dandelions, was put together by the Calvin CAS department as an example outline. Notice how this outline identifies the transition sentences and provides further information for the supporting points.

Your outline doesn’t have to look exactly like either of these examples as long as it accomplishes the main function of an outline: to set out a full written version of your speech.

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Presentation Guru

The 4 most important steps when preparing your speech.

Preparation is the key to a good speech or presentation

The best speeches and presentations – the ones that are delivered effortlessly; the ones that we remember; the ones that make an impact  – are usually the result of thorough and careful preparation.

An iceberg is an excellent metaphor for a good speech or presentation. Most of an iceberg lies under water. Thus, we have the expression, “the tip of the iceberg”. The speech or presentation is like the tip of an iceberg because that is what the audience sees. What the audience doesn’t see – the preparation – is like part of the iceberg beneath the water.

In an ideal world, we would have days or even weeks to focus on an important speech or presentation. But we live in the real world. Time is often short and we have many obligations. Nevertheless, you owe it to your audience to give a speech or presentation that is worthy of their time.

With that in mind, I would like to share with you a simple, but powerful, four-step exercise that I do every time I have a speech or presentation. The exercise usually takes between 25 and 45 minutes. It is time well spent because, at the end of it, you should be much clearer about the things that you will cover in your talk.

Before you begin

Before you begin the exercise, you have to do something that might seem counterintuitive: turn off the computer. Yes, you read that correctly.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I am not a Luddite. I love technology. I have a Smartphone, tablet and laptop. I have helped develop an app and use a Fitbit. I am active on social media and fairly up to date with the latest trends in the tech world. But the computer is a tool, and like any tool, it has to be used for the right job at the right time in the right way.

Too many people make the mistake of firing up PowerPoint or Keynote or Prezi and adding slide after slide full of details. You have to resist that temptation and take a step backwards to get some perspective on your speech or presentation.

Alan Kay, the renowned American computer scientist said it well:

If you have the ideas, you can do a lot without machinery. Once you have those ideas, the machinery starts working for you. … Most ideas you can do pretty darn well with a stick in the sand.

This exercise is all about getting the ideas right . So put away the computer and get some good old-fashioned paper and a pencil or pen.

Step 1 – Have “eagle vision”

An eagle’s eye is a marvel of nature, up to eight times more powerful than a human eye. As it flies, an eagle can survey a large amount of territory. It can spot a rabbit or fish at a distance of up to three kilometres and when it does, it can keep that prey in perfect focus as it swoops in to catch it.

As a speaker, you can do the same thing – metaphorically – as you prepare for your talk.

There are three cornerstones to any speech or presentation: the speaker; the subject; and the audience. On a sheet of paper, make a large triangle (Δ). At the top, write your name; at the bottom left, the name of the audience; and at the bottom right, the subject of your speech or presentation.

Now, think about the relationships between the three cornerstones and write a few notes along the sides of the triangle about each. For example:

Speaker – Subject : What do you know about the subject? Why are you speaking about it? What expertise do you have? What insights can you share with the audience? Etc.

Audience – Subject : What does the audience know about the subject? Do they like the subject? Are they afraid of it? Are they bored by it? How is the subject relevant for the audience? Etc.

Speaker – Audience : What do you know about the audience? What do they know about you? Do you have authority over them? Do they have authority over you? Etc.

Once you have made your notes, you need to need to think about the speaking situation and how it might affect your analysis above. Just as the weather can change from day to day, so too the speaking situation can change for a speaker or an audience.

For example, imagine a CEO who has to give a speech at the company’s annual shareholders meeting. In Year 1, the company has had a great year. Profits are up, the company is gaining market share and the stock price has doubled. In Year 2, the company has had a terrible year. The new product was a disaster, the company has lost market share and the stock prices has tumbled. Same speaker, same audience, same subject. Very different situations.

Here are some questions to ask when thinking about the speaking situation:

Are these good times? Tough times? How does the situation affect the subject of the presentation, if at all? Will the situation affect your delivery? What will happen – for you and the audience – if the presentation goes well? What will happen if it goes poorly? Etc.

As you think about these questions, review the notes that you made and add or amend them as necessary.

The purpose of this first step is to get as clear a picture as possible of the key components of your talk. Like an eagle, you want a broad vision of the landscape before narrowing your focus on your target.

Step 2 – Define your objective

At the end of your speech or presentation, the audience should be changed in some way. What is your objective for the talk? What do you want the audience to do when your talk is over?

Some possible objectives for a business presentation: (a) you want people to invest in a project; (b) you want people to take some action; (c) you want people to be aware of certain information; (d) you want to bring about a change in the company.

Sometimes speakers just want the audience to know something and that is fine. But the most powerful speeches and presentations are the ones that move people to action. If you can get your audience to take some concrete action, you will have made an impact.

When thinking about what you want the audience to do, be specific. Write out the objective as follows: “At the end of the presentation, I want the audience to                                    .”

There are countless objectives that a speech or presentation might have. Give it some thought. Just remember that the objective should be clear and realistic. Audiences need to know what, precisely, they have to do, and they have to be able to do it.

Step 3­ – What is your key message?

A speech or presentation should be built around a key message. It is fine to have more than one key message, but I would only have two or three at most. The more messages you have, the more complicated your talk will be; the more complicated the talk, the less likely it is that people will remember it .

Too often, a presentation rambles along, leaving the audience confused as to what the point was. Very often, this is because the speaker has not thought clearly about the message and so did not construct a coherent talk.

Think about what you want the audience to remember even if they forget everything else that you have said. Then, write your entire presentation in one or two complete sentences. Not bullet points! The purpose of this step is to help you get to the heart of what you want to say.

When you can condense your speech or presentation into a single sentence or two, the message is clear in your mind. Then, when it comes to building your talk, as you think about adding a slide, a statistic, a story, a chart, a graph, etc., ask yourself whether it supports the key message. If it does, it can stay. If it doesn’t, you might want to save it for another talk.

Step 4­ – Why should the audience care?

A speech or presentation is never about the speaker or her product or service or company. It is always about the audience . When speakers put the audience first, that’s when great things can happen with a speech or presentation.

The final step of the exercise is to be clear about why your audience should care about your key message? Why is it important for them? List the reasons. If you can’t think of any, you have a problem. Either you are giving the wrong talk to this audience or you are speaking to the wrong audience. But if you know the reasons why the audience should care, you have the basis for a meaningful speech or presentation.

In this regard, it’s worth remembering the humorous, but insightful, comment of the late Ken Haemer, former Manager of Presentation Research at AT&T:

Designing a presentation without an audience in mind is like writing a love letter and addressing it: “To Whom It May Concern.”

Even if you do not have a lot of time to prepare a speech or presentation, the foregoing exercise will help you clarify your ideas about your talk. Ultimately, this will save you time as you design it and will help you deliver a message that is clear, memorable and relevant for your audience.

If you liked this, you might also like:

5 Easy Ways to Prepare Your Next Presentation

The 8-Step Guide to Approaching Presentations with a Journalistic Mindset

When it Comes to Presentations – Less is More

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• Five Resolutions to Make You a Better Speaker in 2019 - 21st December 2018

Ariel Green

15th May 2018 at 2:34 pm

16th May 2018 at 9:06 am

HI Ariel. Thanks for the comment. Glad you found the post useful.

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Preparing a Speech

• Organize your speech in a logical sequence: opening, main points, summary.
• Practice and rehearse a speech frequently prior to delivering it. Ask friends to be your audience, or practice in front of a mirror. Be sure to use a timer to help you pace your speech.
• Become familiar with the stage or the setting where the speech will take place. Get a sense of the size of the stage, where any steps or obstacles might be, and where to enter and exit.
• Choose comfortable clothes to wear , but always maintain a professional appearance.
• Visual aids should fit a speech, whether they are funny, serious or technical. The main goal of visual aids is to help the audience understand what is being said, and reinforce the points of a speech in unique and interesting ways.

Helpful Resources

5 simple tips to better speechwriting.

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How to Build a Speech

Structure, stories, and word choice are all key to crafting a compelling presentation.

Speech Topics Are Everywhere

Pay attention to your life and the ideas will come.

10 Tips for more productive speech practice.

Building a Great Speech

Gain valuable tips for constructing a presentation from start to finish.

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13.5 Preparing Your Speech to Inform

Learning objectives.

• Discuss and provide examples of ways to incorporate ethics in a speech.
• Construct an effective speech to inform.

Now that we’ve covered issues central to the success of your informative speech, there’s no doubt you want to get down to work. Here are five final suggestions to help you succeed.

Start with What You Know

Are you taking other classes right now that are fresh in your memory? Are you working on a challenging chemistry problem that might lend itself to your informative speech? Are you reading a novel by Gabriel García Márquez that might inspire you to present a biographical speech, informing your audience about the author? Perhaps you have a hobby or outside interest that you are excited about that would serve well. Regardless of where you draw the inspiration, it’s a good strategy to start with what you know and work from there. You’ll be more enthusiastic, helping your audience to listen intently, and you’ll save yourself time. Consider the audience’s needs, not just your need to cross a speech off your “to-do” list. This speech will be an opportunity for you to take prepared material and present it, gaining experience and important feedback. In the “real world,” you often lack time and the consequences of a less than effective speech can be serious. Look forward to the opportunity and use what you know to perform an effective, engaging speech.

Consider Your Audience’s Prior Knowledge

You don’t want to present a speech on the harmful effects of smoking when no one in the audience smokes. You may be more effective addressing the issue of secondhand smoke, underscoring the relationship to relevance and addressing the issue of importance with your audience. The audience will want to learn something from you, not hear everything they have heard before. It’s a challenge to assess what they’ve heard before, and often a class activity is conducted to allow audience members to come to know each other. You can also use their speeches and topic selection as points to consider. Think about age, gender, and socioeconomic status, as well as your listeners’ culture or language. Survey the audience if possible, or ask a couple of classmates what they think of the topics you are considering.

In the same way, when you prepare a speech in a business situation, do your homework. Access the company Web site, visit the location and get to know people, and even call members of the company to discuss your topic. The more information you can gather about your audience, the better you will be able to adapt and present an effective speech.

Adapting Jargon and Technical Terms

You may have a topic in mind from another class or an outside activity, but chances are that there are terms specific to the area or activity. From wakeboarding to rugby to a chemical process that contributes to global warming, there will be jargon and technical terms. Define and describe the key terms for your audience as part of your speech and substitute common terms where appropriate. Your audience will enjoy learning more about the topic and appreciate your consideration as you present your speech.

Using Outside Information

Even if you think you know everything there is to know about your topic, using outside sources will contribute depth to your speech, provide support for your main points, and even enhance your credibility as a speaker. “According to ____________” is a normal way of attributing information to a source, and you should give credit where credit is due. There is nothing wrong with using outside information as long as you clearly cite your sources and do not present someone else’s information as your own.

Presenting Information Ethically

A central but often unspoken expectation of the speaker is that we will be ethical. This means, fundamentally, that we perceive one another as human beings with common interests and needs, and that we attend to the needs of others as well as our own. An ethical informative speaker expresses respect for listeners by avoiding prejudiced comments against any group, and by being honest about the information presented, including information that may contradict the speaker’s personal biases. The ethical speaker also admits it when he or she does not know something. The best salespersons recognize that ethical communication is the key to success, as it builds a healthy relationship where the customer’s needs are met, thereby meeting the salesperson’s own needs.

Reciprocity

Tyler discusses ethical communication and specifically indicates reciprocity as a key principle. Reciprocity , or a relationship of mutual exchange and interdependence, is an important characteristic of a relationship, particularly between a speaker and the audience. We’ve examined previously the transactional nature of communication, and it is important to reinforce this aspect here. We exchange meaning with one another in conversation, and much like a game, it takes more than one person to play. This leads to interdependence, or the dependence of the conversational partners on one another. Inequality in the levels of dependence can negatively impact the communication and, as a result, the relationship. You as the speaker will have certain expectations and roles, but dominating your audience will not encourage them to fulfill their roles in terms of participation and active listening. Communication involves give and take, and in a public speaking setting, where the communication may be perceived as “all to one,” don’t forget that the audience is also communicating in terms of feedback with you. You have a responsibility to attend to that feedback, and develop reciprocity with your audience. Without them, you don’t have a speech.

Mutuality means that you search for common ground and understanding with the audience, establishing this space and building on it throughout the speech. This involves examining viewpoints other than your own, and taking steps to insure the speech integrates an inclusive, accessible format rather than an ethnocentric one.

Nonjudgmentalism

Nonjudgmentalism underlines the need to be open-minded, an expression of one’s willingness to examine diverse perspectives. Your audience expects you to state the truth as you perceive it, with supporting and clarifying information to support your position, and to speak honestly. They also expect you to be open to their point of view and be able to negotiate meaning and understanding in a constructive way. Nonjudgmentalism may include taking the perspective that being different is not inherently bad and that there is common ground to be found with each other.

While this characteristic should be understood, we can see evidence of breakdowns in communication when audiences perceive they are not being told the whole truth. This does not mean that the relationship with the audience requires honesty and excessive self-disclosure. The use of euphemisms and displays of sensitivity are key components of effective communication, and your emphasis on the content of your speech and not yourself will be appreciated. Nonjudgmentalism does underscore the importance of approaching communication from an honest perspective where you value and respect your audience.

Honesty , or truthfulness, directly relates to trust, a cornerstone in the foundation of a relationship with your audience. Without it, the building (the relationship) would fall down. Without trust, a relationship will not open and develop the possibility of mutual understanding. You want to share information and the audience hopefully wants to learn from you. If you “cherry-pick” your data, only choosing the best information to support only your point and ignore contrary or related issues, you may turn your informative speech into a persuasive one with bias as a central feature.

Look at the debate over the U.S. conflict with Iraq. There has been considerable discussion concerning the cherry-picking of issues and facts to create a case for armed intervention. To what degree the information at the time was accurate or inaccurate will continue to be a hotly debated issue, but the example holds in terms on an audience’s response to a perceived dishonestly. Partial truths are incomplete and often misleading, and you don’t want your audience to turn against you because they suspect you are being less than forthright and honest.

Respect should be present throughout a speech, demonstrating the speaker’s high esteem for the audience. Respect can be defined as an act of giving and displaying particular attention to the value you associate with someone or a group. This definition involves two key components. You need to give respect in order to earn from others, and you need to show it. Displays of respect include making time for conversation, not interrupting, and even giving appropriate eye contact during conversations.

Communication involves sharing and that requires trust. Trust means the ability to rely on the character or truth of someone, that what you say you mean and your audience knows it. Trust is a process, not a thing. It builds over time, through increased interaction and the reduction of uncertainty. It can be lost, but it can also be regained. It should be noted that it takes a long time to build trust in a relationship and can be lost in a much shorter amount of time. If your audience suspects you mislead them this time, how will they approach your next presentation? Acknowledging trust and its importance in your relationship with the audience is the first step in focusing on this key characteristic.

Avoid Exploitation

Finally, when we speak ethically, we do not intentionally exploit one another. Exploitation means taking advantage, using someone else for one’s own purposes. Perceiving a relationship with an audience as a means to an end and only focusing on what you get out of it, will lead you to treat people as objects. The temptation to exploit others can be great in business situations, where a promotion, a bonus, or even one’s livelihood are at stake.

Suppose you are a bank loan officer. Whenever a customer contacts the bank to inquire about applying for a loan, your job is to provide an informative presentation about the types of loans available, their rates and terms. If you are paid a commission based on the number of loans you make and their amounts and rates, wouldn’t you be tempted to encourage them to borrow the maximum amount they can qualify for? Or perhaps to take a loan with confusing terms that will end up costing much more in fees and interest than the customer realizes? After all, these practices are within the law; aren’t they just part of the way business is done? If you are an ethical loan officer, you realize you would be exploiting customers if you treated them this way. You know it is more valuable to uphold your long-term relationships with customers than to exploit them so that you can earn a bigger commission.

Consider these ethical principles when preparing and presenting your speech, and you will help address many of these natural expectations of others and develop healthier, more effective speeches.

Sample Informative Presentation

Here is a generic sample speech in outline form with notes and suggestions.

Attention Statement

Show a picture of a goldfish and a tomato and ask the audience, “What do these have in common?”

Introduction

• Briefly introduce genetically modified foods.
• State your topic and specific purpose: “My speech today will inform you on genetically modified foods that are increasingly part of our food supply.”
• Introduce your credibility and the topic: “My research on this topic has shown me that our food supply has changed but many people are unaware of the changes.”
• State your main points: “Today I will define genes, DNA, genome engineering and genetic manipulation, discuss how the technology applies to foods, and provide common examples.”
• Information . Provide a simple explanation of the genes, DNA and genetic modification in case there are people who do not know about it. Provide clear definitions of key terms.
• Genes and DNA . Provide arguments by generalization and authority.
• Genome engineering and genetic manipulation . Provide arguments by analogy, cause, and principle.
• Case study . In one early experiment, GM (genetically modified) tomatoes were developed with fish genes to make them resistant to cold weather, although this type of tomato was never marketed.
• Highlight other examples.

Reiterate your main points and provide synthesis, but do not introduce new content.

Residual Message

“Genetically modified foods are more common in our food supply than ever before.”

Key Takeaway

In preparing an informative speech, use your knowledge and consider the audience’s knowledge, avoid unnecessary jargon, give credit to your sources, and present the information ethically.

• Identify an event or issue in the news that interests you. On at least three different news networks or Web sites, find and watch video reports about this issue. Compare and contrast the coverage of the issue. Do the networks or Web sites differ in their assumptions about viewers’ prior knowledge? Do they give credit to any sources of information? To what extent do they each measure up to the ethical principles described in this section? Discuss your findings with your classmates.
• Find an example of reciprocity in a television program and write two to three paragraphs describing it. Share and compare with your classmates.
• Find an example of honesty in a television program and write two to three paragraphs describing it. Share and compare with your classmates.
• Find an example of exploitation depicted in the media. Describe how the exploitation is communicated with words and images and share with the class.
• Compose a general purpose statement and thesis statement for a speech to inform. Now create a sample outline. Share with a classmate and see if he or she offers additional points to consider.

Tyler, V. (1978). Report of the working groups of the second SCA summer conference on intercultural communication. In N. C. Asuncio-Lande (Ed.), Ethical Perspectives and Critical Issues in Intercultural Communication (pp. 170–177). Falls Church, VA: SCA.

Business Communication for Success Copyright © 2015 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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COMM 1110: Speech Communication: Steps of the Speech Process

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• Steps of the Speech Process
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A speech generally needs to be written further in advance than a research paper so that adequate practice and revision can occur. Preparing for your speech will help with the very common fear of public speaking.  Here are some steps and links to guide you through the process.

Step 1: Understand Your Assignment

• Read your assignment and ask  your instructor you have questions on what is required.
• Who is your audience?  What is your purpose?  This this guide your topic, tone, and style.
• How long is the speech?  Are you using presentation software such as PowerPoint or do you need visuals or props?  How many sources are required?

Step 2: Select and focus your topic. Begin preliminary research

• See the Topics Research Guide
• ProCon.org: Hot Topics in the News
• Locate background information
• Locate information in books and e-books
• Consult some databases
• Locate journal articles
• Locate visuals (graphics and films)

Step 3: Get Organized

Begin to organize or outline your speech.Group your remarks and evidence to create an informal outline. It may be useful to include: 

• An introduction (including purpose and overview)
• Content or body
• Begin crafting a strong title, opening and key sentences.
• Speeches from University of North Carolina Writing Center
• Writing an Effective Title  from U of M's Center for Writing.

Step 4: Step 4: Draft any visuals. Gather additional research.

• Select evidence to support your ideas such as quotations, statistics , facts, anecdotes, etc.
• Gather your evidence from credible sources.  Include the source in  your speech.  This will make your speech more authoritative.
• Do you need help in locating materials?  Ask the librarians for help via chat, e-mail, or phone,
• Visit the Free Images, Music, and Videos Research Guide
• Learn more about creating effective visuals
• Citation help

Step 5: Compose Your Talking Points

• Start with your most important points.
• What is the "take home message" you want your audience to understand, believe, accept or do after they hear your speech? Write this out in one or two sentences.What evidence supports your "take home message?"
• Novelty: an unusual fact or surprising image
• Conflict: an opposing viewpoints on the issue
• Humor: an amusing play on words or exaggerated remark
• Suspense: such as asking a provocative question
• Consult your outline
• Create index cards (be sure to number cards)
• Organize your visuals
• On the Lisle campus, get help at the Student Success Center to go over your speech or outline for structure, clarity, tone, etc.

Step 6: Plan the Timing of Your Speech.

• Add timing to your talking points
• Revise your talking points, PowerPoint slides and transitions.
• Delete talking points and/or PowerPoint slides that are not crucial. Paring down or eliminating content will enhance clarity and improve the speech overall.  

Step 7: Rehearse Your Speech for Content and Timing.

• Be aware of your body position, foot placement, breath and eye movement.
• Videotape or record a rehearsal to identify problems, distracting habits, etc. 
• Avoid reading every word--you should be presenting not reading.
• Avoid common verbal habits such as "um", "like", "you know", "kinda", etc.
• Practice your speech many times until you feel comfortable with the content and timing.
• Review your assignment to be sure you are meeting all the requirements.

Step 8: Rehearse Your Speech in Front of an Audience.

• Gather a few friends or classmates and deliver your speech.
• Try to avoid the following common behaviors: fidgeting, looking at the computer or screen not at audience, rustling your papers, chewing gum, gesturing too much, or pacing.
• Ask for feedback on your delivery (such as eye contact, hand gestures, speech habits, etc.) and content
• Ask what they identified as the most important points. Do these match yours?
• Edit or revise speech based on the feedback.

Step 9: Continue Revising and Prepare for Anticipated Questions

• If your speech includes a question and answer session with your audience, spend some time to anticipate questions and briefly plan answers.
• Ask for clarification if you don't understand a question when you are presenting

Step 10: Final Preparations

Continue to rehearse. Prepare to deliver you speech.

• Make sure you have all your materials together including note cards, outlines, visuals, handouts, bibliography, PowerPoint on Flash drive, etc.
• Arrive early
• Practice on the day of your speech so you are comfortable with the content.

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5.5: Outlining Your Speech

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An outline is an important tool for the public speaker as well.  Once you have decided on your main points, you can begin to sift through the supporting materials that you’ve gathered, choosing the most relevant examples and the strongest facts and details from your research. As you work through the outlining process, you begin to see which details best correlate with your main points and how to connect those ideas logically.  An outline provides you with a visual snapshot of your essay or speech.  Just looking at an outline allows others to immediately see how you’ve grouped ideas together or which details support which main points.  Outlines typically use symbols and indentations to reveal the organization of your points and are valuable tools to assist you in structuring, organizing, and developing your ideas  (Sumerset). An outline can reveal gaps in your information or disorganized thinking on your part. Never underestimate the importance of your outline; it’s your guide, or map, to your presentation.

The first step in creating your outline is to determine what main ideas you will include in your speech. Most students find that that they can clearly explain no more than three or four main ideas in a four- to six-minute speech. Your presentation will be stronger if you choose to explain a few ideas clearly and comprehensively rather than choosing to explain too many ideas sparingly. Your main ideas are represented on your outline by Roman numerals (I, II, III, etc.) as shown in the following example.

• The link between lung cancer and smoking
• Treatment options for lung cancer patients
• The mortality rate for lung cancer

Obviously, the outline shown above is incomplete. There is more to an outline than the main ideas. Where are the supporting details -the facts and statistics, the stories of patients who have experienced lung cancer and survived? Any reader should be able to deduce from your outline how you intend to present the topic and how your supporting details relate to your main points.  You have two or three main points, but which details fit where?  Merkley and Jeffries suggest the utilization of a graphic organizer to help you visualize how your details support your points (350-59). A network tree organizer, such as the one shown below, is useful when you intend to list facts, definitions, or examples that relate to a single idea or concept -in our case, points relating to one main idea.

If you have a main idea, but you cannot find at least two (or three) supporting details for that idea, you probably need to reconsider whether that particular point is integral to your topic. If it’s a key point in your presentation, you should be able to “back it up ” with several relevant facts or explanations.

Supporting details should be listed vertically under each of the corresponding main points and are represented on your outline by capital letters (A, B, C, etc.).  Supporting details should be indented on the outline; the indentation acts as a visual reminder that these are lesser details linked to the bigger idea above them. The following list is an example.

The link between lung cancer and smoking*

A. Smokers are seventy percent more likely to develop lung cancer

B. Scientists can show that nicotine and other cigarette additives destroy lung tissue and air sacs, reducing the lung’s ability to defend against invading cells

The addition of sub-points (A, B, C) under each main idea (I, II, III) helps to further explain and validate the bigger main idea. However, in most cases, your outline will need to go one step further. What if you need to further explain some of your sub-points? In the previous example, subpoint A provides a statistical detail (seventy percent of smokers are more likely to develop lung cancer). It would be important to list the source of this data and perhaps the timeframe for this statistic so that your listeners can assess the validity of your facts. These details should then be listed vertically under subpoint A, as they relate directly to that single statistic and to that particular sub-point. These details would also be further indented to show the corresponding relationship and are represented by numbers (1, 2, 3, etc.). Take a look at the following example.

I. The link between lung cancer and smoking

• Five-year study published in the Harvard Journal of Medicine
• Study compared medical records of 10,000 lung cancer patients

Now let’s put the entire outline together so that you can see the finished project.

2. Study compared medical records of 10,000 lung cancer patients

II. Treatment options for lung cancer patients

A. Partial removal of affected lung tissue

B. Lung transplant

C. Radiation to shrink existing cells

• Palliative measure only
• Adds +/- two years to patient’s life

III. The mortality rate for lung cancer

A. Less than forty percent of lung cancer patients survive more than three years

B. Lung transplants result in organ rejection (and ultimately, death) in fifty-eight percent of patients

* These are fictional details for instructional purposes and do not represent any actual statistical data, studies, or findings.

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• Testimonials

7 steps to prepare a speech in a surprisingly short time

Most of my clients are entrepreneurs, CEOs or working in other leadership positions. I also meet many small business entrepreneurs. One common thread is that they’re very busy. Successful leaders are mindful about how they spend every single minute.

It’s no surprise then, that when these leaders are asked to speak in public, the one thing they are thinking is:

How do I prepare a speech in as little time as possible?

They realise very well that speaking well is important , and that preparation is necessary to deal with speaking anxiety . They just want to do it efficiently.

Today I’d like to share with you an excerpt of my CEO playbook for delivering speeches. The section on preparation contains tips that are useful to anyone looking to prepare a speech in half the time while doubling their impact .

I’ve compiled them into a handy list of 7 steps:

The 7 steps to efficiently prepare a speech

The steps are:

• Identify your purpose . Why are you speaking?
• Know your audience. What are their aspirations, pains, …?
• Add significance. Why should the audience care?
• Define your clear message. What should your audience remember?
• Establish your structure . Develop a middle part with one or two points supported by an anecdote, story, and preferably backed up by facts and data.
• Prepare a strong opening and a strong ending .

1. Define your purpose

For a speech to be effective, it must have a clear goal. A goal also helps you focus while creating the speech.

Ask yourself: do you mainly want to…

Note: these goals may overlap, and one does not exclude another. But one must be your main goal.

2. Know your audience

In order to connect with your audience during speeches, it is important to be able to place yourself in their shoes. Only from this perspective can you truly communicate understanding and establish rapport.

To know your audience is to engage your audience.

The Empathy Map is a handy technique from the world of user experience and marketing, where it is used to better understand potential or existing customers. It works remarkably well when you prepare a speech, too.

The big idea is to go over the different areas in the map and come up with the elements that create your listeners’ mental world in relation to the topic.

Suppose you are to deliver a speech on the use of sugar in processed foods. Some questions the empathy map would trigger are:

• What do they think about the use of sugar and how does it make them feel ?
• What do they hear about sugar from their environment or in the news?
• What do they see when it comes to sugar, e.g. in terms of advertising or packaging?
• What do they say about sugar to their peers? What do they do – what actions do they take (or not take)?
• What  pain, or significant disadvantages, do they associate with sugar?
• What  gain, or significant advantages, do they associate with sugar?

Note that the answers to some of these questions will overlap. Don’t worry about that — this is just a brainstorming tool to trigger relevant information stored in your memory. The point is not to organise information in any neat way.

Try it, even if it’s for 5 minutes! You’ll be surprised how helpful the answers are for:

• finding an angle
• finding the right words
• creating goodwill
• overcoming resistance
• and much more.

3. Add significance

Why significance is key when you prepare a speech.

Crafting any good story starts with the why . What’s the point exactly?

There’s a saying in public speaking: you win the heart before you win the mind. Knowing the  why of your speech is essential in accomplishing that.

Speakers engage an audience by being significant; by creating meaning. Audiences feel engaged when they have the feeling the talk is also about them. A great example is Martin Luther King’s famous ‘I have a dream’ speech. The audience did not come to see Martin Luther King, they came because they identified with his ideas. They felt his speech was about them, their lives, and their dreams.

That explains the importance of step 2: Know your audience. You can only add significance if you have a clear image of the receiving end of your speech.

How to find your speech’s significance

To find the significance of your speech, ask yourself the following questions when you prepare a speech:

• Why am I giving this speech?
• What do I believe, that I want to share? What do I stand for?
• So what?! Why should my audience care?

4. Define your clear message

Today, people are flooded with information. There is an image circulating on the web which goes so far to say that a person today receives more information in a day than a person in the middle ages in his entire life!

True or not, we can all agree that in a device-rich world, the information intake has never been more intense.

How does that translate to speeching? Well: to make your speech memorable, I suggest you focus on extracting one key message .

Your key message should be as simple as possible, regardless of the complexity of the issues and topics at hand. It will consist of one or two phrases that express your main point.

If that sounds daunting, let’s look at a model that can help.

The Message House model is a time-tested PR tool to condense complex stories into a thematic ‘house’. This house is made of a set of three messages that together form the overarching key message (called the Umbrella Statement in the model).

The Core Messages on the second level represent your Umbrella Statement, but in greater detail. They can be supporting arguments, sequential steps to take, conditional statements, descriptive (think: who, what, where, when, why and how), or of another kind.

Finally, the lower part of the house provides evidence, proof points and support. This is the foundation of your story.

How to use the Message House

In some cases, your Umbrella Statement (that’s your key message) will be very clear to you. If that’s so, it’s useful to come up with the 3 Core Messages that make up the Umbrella Statement.

At other times, you’ll have 2 or 3 messages in mind as you prepare a speech. In that case, consider those your Core messages and start to look for the single Umbrella Statement.

Examples of Umbrella Statements and their Core Messages

• Employees lose time and energy in traffic.
• Some employees report they feel less productive in larger office spaces.
• Candidates for jobs that are hard to fill, are not attracted to our current policy.
• First, I will introduce the idea at the annual shop owner’ meeting.
• Then, I will have the team communicate the exact steps to each shop owner.
• Finally, our sales representatives will check each shop they visit.
• The Polish and Swedish teams did exceptionally well.
• May and June were top periods for sales.
• Orange bicycles are super popular and account for a large part of the profits.

5. Establish your structure

The way you organise information is essential if you want your audience to follow and understand your speech. Ideas must be put together in an orderly manner.

I therefore recommend every speaker to use an  outline as the backbone for their speech.

An outline is simply 10,000 feet view of your speech. It’s as if you would zoom out completely and see the major turns your speech takes.

Why use an outline?

That’s easy: our brains are simply not capable of creating quality content from beginning to end.

Compare it to cooking a meal. Imagine yourself standing in front of different foods. Without thinking ahead, you grab a couple of ingredients and start cutting, cleaning and preparing them.

Unless you’re an experienced chef, that won’t result in a remarkable meal, will it? Without a gameplan to prepare a speech, the end result of your creation will be underwhelming.

Here are a few general directions your outlines can take. These are based on effective storytelling principles:

• Problem – pathway – solution
• Problem – solution – reasoning
• Situation – complication – solution
• Past – present – future

After you’ve decided on the general direction, flesh out your outline. See if you can describe your speech in ten to fifteen bullets. Refer to your Message House (see previous point) to make sure your outline includes your Core messages.

What structure works best for your purpose? Do you have a preference? Try a few structures for your speeches and choose the one that is most persuading.

Related article: How to structure a victory speech in three steps

Next, integrate even more storytelling. Your bigger picture might be represented by a story, but can you integrate ‘mini-stories’ to illustrate specific points?

6. Prepare a strong opening and strong ending

Scientific research shows it again and again. If you ask people to rate a certain experience they had recently, they will base a lot of their opinion on how it began and how it ends. Looking back at an experience, whatever happens in the middle seems to carry less weight for us.

A classic example is a visit to a restaurant. Smart restaurant owners focus extra on doing two things impeccably: the welcoming and the dessert. Although they pay great attention to the overall experience, of course, they know that a sloppy greeting of their guests, or a below-standard dessert, can easily spoil their guests’ memory of the whole evening.

For you, it means it’s smart to think twice about how you open and how you close.

Ideas for a strong opening

Here are a few angles to inspire you in crafting your opening:

• ‘Start with a bang’: use a quote, bold claim or striking fact, or ask a question.
• ‘So what?’: Go straight to the point and open with why your audience should care.
• ‘Introduce yourself’: But do it in a compelling way. Tell a juicy story. What would the tabloids write about you?
• Make the purpose clear – What impact do you want to achieve?

Ideas for a memorable ending

• Repeat your Key Message. Think ‘key takeaway’. This is a natural-feeling and effective way to make a firm point.
• Refer to the beginning. Most good stories develop in a circular way. A problem introduced in the beginning gets solved in the end. Balance gets restored; etcetera.
• Present a call-to-action . If you want your audience to take a certain action, always end with that.

7. Rehearse

1. write out, practice and tweak (optional).

At this point, you could write out your speech in full text – if you have the time.

Read your text out loud for a few times until you’re comfortable with the content. You will probably still tweak a few parts.

If you don’t have the time, or you feel comfortable working with just bullet points, feel free to skip to step 2!

I do highly recommend you write out your opening and ending.

2. Bring back to bullet points and practice again

Once on stage, you don’t want to hold the full text of your speech in your hand. You will be tempted to look at it often, which will break your connection with the audience.

So now, reduce your text to a list of main points, keywords, facts and anecdotes. And practice your speech again. Refer back your outline from step 5 for the general structure.

This will also help you memorise the speech completely by heart faster.

Do I have to know my whole speech by heart, you ask?

My answer is: not necessarily. But as just mentioned, do know your opening and ending from the inside out.

3. Take your practice to the next level

Here are my rehearsing tips for the best results:

• Record yourself . Most beginning speakers find this tough, but it’s an essential way of spotting weaknesses in your speaking and improving them.
• Practice for real people. The gap between practising in front of a mirror and practising in front of a crowd is just too large. Practice for a small group of colleagues or family members to get used to the stress that comes with having an audience.
• Ask for specific feedback. If you practice in front of people, help them evaluate you by asking them specific questions. It could be the content, your body language, or your opening. Anything you feel you need feedback on.
• Rehearse often. Once you’re happy with your speech’s content and your performance, practice your speech ten times – if you have that luxury of time. If you need more practice, go for it. There’s no better confidence booster as knowing you’ve rehearsed your speech until it hurt 🙂

That’s it!

Although I could elaborate on each on the above points, this provides you with a larger plan to optimally prepare a speech.

Are you a busy professional looking for a speaker coach to get you from good to great in the most efficient way. Look no further. I am here to help all my clients achieve exactly that.

“I knew that Elizabeth really understands what I want to achieve and whom I want to reach, and that she is a bad-ass coach with mad skills. When I was asked to give a keynote at an event, I was determined to really take my talk to the next level. So it was a no-brainer to work with her. Could I have done it on my own? Perhaps, but it would have taken me more time, stress and effort and I would not have achieved the same results. Working with a coach who you can trust, like Elizabeth, creates an extremely comfortable starting position, which made me step onto the stage on the Big Day without any nerves.” – Anouck Meier, CEO of Ampersand

Book your free call via this link. 

Moxie Institute

How To Prepare A Speech

Preparing a speech may seem a bit overwhelming when you are first faced with the task—but the rewards of doing it right are always worth it.

Fortunately, there are proven steps you can take to prepare a speech, deliver it with impact, and impress your audience.

We are going to share with you our top seven tips so that next time you need to deliver a well-prepared speech, you’ll know just what to do!.

1. KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE

The most important question you must ask yourself while preparing for a speech, or any public speaking opportunity, is not “what is my topic?” but “who is my audience?”

Understanding your audience will help you prepare a presentation that will connect with them in a meaningful way.

Your first step to achieving your goals with an audience is knowing who you’re dealing with. These three questions will help you understand who you are speaking to:

• Why are they here? There are many reasons why someone could be attending your speech. You need to understand why your audience is spending this time with you.
• Who are they? Interns at a firm have different characteristics than C-Suite executives. To connect with your audience, your speech needs to relate to them.
• What are they expecting to gain? It is essential to be clear on the end goal of your speech. Does your audience want to learn from you? Are they looking to be motivated? Or do they want to be entertained? The entire tone of your speech will change dramatically depending on this answer.

It’s also essential that the content and delivery of your speech adapt to your audience’s:

• Level of knowledge/experience
• Demographic

You also need to consider how they will use the information you provide.

By doing detailed research and audience analysis, you’ll find it much easier to prepare your speech. You will present the exact content that your listeners want to hear with increased confidence, and you’ll also elevate your professional reputation as an expert.

2. DEFINE THE PURPOSE OF YOUR SPEECH

Once you understand your audience , you must determine the purpose for your speech that will resonate with them most. In short:

Build your presentation around one big idea and only one.

Think back on every speech you’ve ever heard. Can you remember what the speaker’s main point was?

If you can’t, well, in our book, that speech wasn’t a complete success.

A great speech has a central message so clear, concise, and catchy that the audience can’t help but remember it.

The Narrative – Your Story

In his book TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking, Chris Anderson writes, “One of the biggest reasons we turn down applications to speak at TED is when we’re offered compelling anecdotes but no central idea that wraps that narrative together.”

That matches our experience at Moxie. Yes, all great talks infuse clear storylines, but they also are tied intimately to the purpose and overall message.

The talk has a point, and the story provides the emotional hook that sells it to the audience.

Why? Because we all love a good story and because good stories are drawn from the heart. The ideal narrative establishes authority, captures the heart and mind, and illuminates your topic.

Like Anderson, we’ve found that compelling presentations need good stories. Narratives aren’t just something you throw in, dispensable parts of the speech—they’re the glue that binds the whole presentation together.

Whether your speech is built around your personal story, testimonials, or even new studies, dive in deep to find the human truth in the narrative.

What your audience wants is authenticity and vulnerability here. If you’re talking about difficult and painful experiences or exciting and triumphant tales, they’ll understand—and most will also relate. Most importantly, you will form a deeper connection with them.

You will be building empathy with the audience depending on the route you’ve taken, for example:

• Personal Story – “I’ve been in your shoes; I’ve had the same problems. I’m here to tell you how I figured it out so you can too.”
• Testimonials – “We’ve all experienced X before. We’ve all felt the same frustration. But what if I were to tell you that you may never have to feel that way again? Here are the stories of people who did the unthinkable and what we learned….”
• Studies – “The data has confirmed what many of you have likely believed your whole life. Not only were you right, but we uncovered something unexpected and exciting in the process that will change the entire industry. Here’s what happened…”

Drawing an audience in with a relevant, purporse-driven narrative is powerfully persuasive. Of course, that’s just what you say. How you say it is important too.

3. PLAN YOUR DELIVERY

The best presentations target both the right brain (emotion) and the left brain (logic). They inform and entertain the audience.

Consider the following three foundational steps to a great speech delivery:

Establish Credibility

Establishing credibility is essential to getting your message across. An audience’s perception of your credibility is based on three different components :

• Body language – 55%
• Tone of voice – 38%
• Content – 7%

Naturally, we can see that a big emphasis should be placed on body language, followed by your tone of voice.

It is not to say that your content is not important after all; it is the foundation of your speech. Keep in mind that your delivery can either amplify your message or undermine it.

As you prepare your speech, make sure to prioritize how you will deliver for optimum impact.

Here are some tips to demonstrate credibility while you present:

Body Language

• Maximize the space your body takes up on stage. Turn to face different sections of the audience
• If you’re telling a story, use physicality to bring it life
• Don’t hunch or get small! Use an expansive body posture to demonstrates confidence
• Do a vocal warm up to give your voice more strength before speaking
• Raise and lower your voice to match the emotions you’re conveying. Be loud and passionate, quiet and serious—vocal variety is the spice of a good speech
• Avoid using filler words or sounds. We’ve all sat through a speech where every other word is “umm” or “er” or “like” that is a sure credibility killer! The best antidote: pausing. Pauses give your brain space to catch up and add effect to your talk
• Practice so your speech is fluid and with proper enunciation.

Engage Emotions

Don’t speak like a robot. Tap into your audience’s emotions.

We lead textured emotional lives: we laugh, we cry, we bristle at injustice, we root for the hero. Your words should engage that entire emotional range.

Just remember: nowhere is authenticity more essential than with emotional appeals. The only feeling stirred by canned jokes and insincere stories is awkwardness.

So, how do you find the right emotional words for your speech? One simple and convenient way is by drawing from the core of who you are and your own emotion-related experiences.

From stoic CEOs to ex-marines, we’ve coached many people who have wrongly said they don’t feel much. But the second we ask them to think about important family, best friends, and significant memories, they realize just how significant a role emotions play in their life.

When preparing your speech, think about the emotions you want your audience to feel, and find a way to talk about it so that you feel those emotions yourself.

Because if you feel the emotions while talking, studies have shown that mirror neurons in the brains of your audience will fire off, making them feel those emotions too.

Though you may be tempted to skip the pathos, it’s also important to know that it’s emotion that triggers memory . And we know you DO want your audience to remember you after you are done.

4. PLAN THE OPENING OF YOUR SPEECH

You will gain or lose your audience’s trust and attention from the very moment you start speaking (in fact, from the very moment you step on stage.)

The introduction to your speech has one goal: to persuade the audience to give you their most precious resources—their time and attention.

Your intro doesn’t need to solve world peace or sound like Shakespeare. It simply needs to convince your listeners that you’re someone worth listening to.

This makes it even more critical to ask the question, “How should I open my speech?”

Speech writing is an art and a science. Your intuition and creativity will give you some ideas on what may work. And through experimenting and testing, you can land on the ideal opening.

So experiment. See what works for your setting and message. Maybe it’s eliciting emotional reactions through music , or maybe a poem, or maybe a shocking statistic from your latest whitepaper. Try them all out on colleagues or friends to determine what’s most effective for you.

If you need help with some ideas, try the P.U.N.C.H. method:

You’ll know your audience is hooked when they’re ready for more. When they’ve decided your message makes it worth sticking around. Another clue is when they are not looking at their phones.

The key to a killer opening, then, is this: make it worthy of your audience so that they know it’s worth their time.

5. ORGANIZE THE BODY OF YOUR SPEECH

Build the main points of the speech around your one big idea. Make sure the central idea is stated in the introduction. Support it throughout the body, and finally, restate it at your closing.

Warning: If you’re giving a presentation with slides, DO NOT start the entire process on the presentation software. Many clients start making their presentations in Powerpoint immediately, which is the worst way to order your thoughts.

For any speech, start on paper, then move to the screen only once you’ve scribbled and edited and finalized the outline and structure of your speech.

Do you want to change hearts and minds through your presentations? If your answer is yes, then you also need to think specifically how you will engage, entice, and entertain your audience.

You don’t have to immediately enroll in public speaking training or become an Oscar-worthy actor or actress. But you do need to incorporate things like:

• Improvisations
• Or literally, any other engaging ideas you have that go beyond information delivery.

You need to actively keep your audience hooked and enjoying every minute of your speech.

6. EDIT YOUR SPEECH

Once you have the initial draft of your speech, it’s time to edit. This is where you cut down your content so it is clear, focused, and concise.

When editing, avoid falling in love with any portion of your speech. You may have beautiful paragraphs you labored over, slides you poured your heart and soul into, but you must be prepared to cut them out if needed.

Follow these steps to guide you in editing your speech:

• Make sure your paragraphs and sentences are all centered around your core message
• Avoid jargon or industry terminology that may lose your audience because they don’t relate to it
• Eliminate sentences if your point can be made without them
• Cut out any words that do not add clarity of meaning to the sentence
• Use short words that are easy to understand
• Avoid abrupt transitions by using appropriate transition words and phrases to make your speech flow
• Make your speech light and engaging by breaking up long stretches with levity
• Balance theory and logical arguments with stories and practical applications
• Use rhetorical questions, analogies, and metaphors
• Create vivid images and appeal to the senses
• Active = Take charge of your life to make an impact
• Passive = Taking charge of your life can make an impact
• Simplify your sentences and make paragraphs coherent
• Condense closely related material

It may be difficult to part with some of your content but remember that your speech is not for you. Ultimately, it needs to serve its purpose and serve your audience.

7. CONCLUDING YOUR SPEECH

A good closing moves your audience. This is your final opportunity to drive the purpose of your presentation home.

This is also where you nudge them to take whatever action you may have planned for them to take.

Did you start the talk with a story about the company’s founder? Reintroduce that person at the end in a new, slightly different way and in a way that mirrors the journey you’ve led the audience through in your talk.

Has there been a recurring joke throughout the presentation? Rather than overusing it, turn it on its head at the end—it’ll be unexpected, and it’ll make the audience rethink what’s come before.

Here are five tips to end your speech:

• Be Meticulous In Planning Your Closing Don’t be the athlete who starts celebrating before they’ve crossed the finish line. A stronger conclusion is vital to your speech’s success. This will be the last thing they will remember about you; make a lasting impression.
• Summarize And Restate The Purpose Of Your Speech Summarize the big important idea and key supporting points. You are building to a crescendo so help your audience see how everything ties together.
• Finish Your Story Or Bring It Back Whatever narrative you have woven throughout your speech, it’s important that you bring it to an end or tie it to your final points. This will help everything stay in your audience’s mind..
• Use A Call To Action If your speech had a purpose that included the audience taking a step towards something, make it clear. If you’ve engaged them throughout, they will be emotionally invested and ready to take action. This is the crucial point to give them directions on exactly what they can do after your speech.
• If You Can, Stay Afterward To Talk To The Audience When people hear a fantastic speech, they often want to meet the speaker immediately. They want to ask questions, share their compliments, and sometimes offer new business opportunities. It’s always worth your time to do this as it helps grow your network and elevate your reputation.

It helps to visualize your closing. Practice in your mind the entire closing part of the speech. This will help you find your comfort level with some of these five tips. Use what is appropriate for you.

Bonus Advice: How To Speak With Clarity And Confidence

Since you spent all that time preparing an incredible speech, it would be a shame if your public speaking skills weren’t up to par to bring it to life. We have a public speaking ultimate guide that goes into greater detail, but here are some quick tips to follow below.

We have all been there, sitting in the audience, and the speaker comes to the podium. In less than 60 seconds, we are mesmerized. The speaker seems larger than life, they fill the room with their persona.

The speaker is articulate and succinct, yet effective. No word is wasted. The message is crystal clear and connects with the audience. They are leaning forward, listening intently.

That is mastery of confidence and clarity. How do YOU get there? Here are five tips:

• Let Your Voice Dance! Use the full range of tone of your voice. The highs and lows can be very effective in emphasizing parts of your speech.
• Enunciate Your Words Properly Don’t mumble or run through your words at 100 miles an hour! Pace your speech, and pay particular attention to finishing your words. Pay particular attention to words that end in “T”, “K”, “P”, “D” to make sure you finish the word and not just slide right into the next.

You need to be very comfortable with pausing. It helps you by giving you a second or two to gather your thoughts for the next sentence. Pauses, when done correctly , also help your audience digest what you just said. “Drinking from a firehose” type delivery of speeches is not the most effective.

As we mentioned previously, your tone of voice accounts for 38% of the effectiveness of your speech; using the right breathing technique can help you nail that key element of your speech!

Prepare And Deliver With Confidence

Preparing a speech will give you the confidence you need to connect effectively with your audience and deliver your message with impact.

Whether you are someone who frequently speaks in front of audiences or someone doing it for the first time, you now have a roadmap to follow.

Now that you know how to prepare a killer speech, learn how to deliver it with expert style with our Speak with Moxie e-book. Get the full ebook full of expert techniques and advice immediately at your fingertips by filling out this form !

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How to Prepare for a Speech in 5 Simple Steps

Want to know how to prepare for a speech? 

First, you need to understand that the ONE thing most successful speeches have in common is this:

The best speeches seem effortless. That is, most impactful speeches are often those that seem like they weren’t prepared for, as if they are impromptu, passionate talks that capture the attention of listeners. 

These speeches come across as eloquent, but not stiff. Conversational, but passionate. Clear, but with depth. 

Preparing for a speech means putting in hours of prep work to ensure your speech doesn’t feel stiffed and rehearsed for the audience, or for you. 

But the the reality is that successful speeches DO require consistent, careful preparation. From crafting a compelling message to perfecting your delivery, here’s a step-by-step process you can follow for preparing an impactful speech: 

• Define Your Purpose and Audience
• Narrow Down Your Message
• Polish Speech Structure and Organization
• Prepare the Opening and Closing
• Master Rehearsal and Delivery

BONUS Tips to Prepare For a Speech

#1 –  define your purpose and audience.

When preparing for a speech, clearly defining your purpose and understanding your target audience are essential steps. You first have to determine why you are writing the speech, and who the speech is for. This will help you build a solid foundation as you begin to write and prepare for your speech. 

First, define your purpose. Ask yourself the following questions: 

• Why are you writing this speech?
• What do you want to achieve with your speech?
• Do you aim to inform, persuade, entertain, or inspire your audience?

Depending on your answers to the above questions, you’ll want to ensure that you’re considering the purpose of the speech before you even begin writing. 

For example, maybe you’re writing a speech for your best friend’s wedding. In this case, you’d likely want to create a memorable, touching speech that highlights your friend’s best qualities and elicits excitement for their marriage journey. You’d want to leave a lasting impression that makes everyone laugh , entertains, or inspires the wedding guests for years to come. Knowing the purpose before you start writing, will help you craft a speech that considers your end-goal.

Determining your speech’s purpose will help you guide your message towards a specific direction and ensure that your content remains focused and impactful. Clarity in your message is key to effectively conveying your ideas. By emphasizing one key message and structuring your speech around it, you can help your audience grasp the main point you’re trying to convey. 

Second, define your target audience. Ask yourself these questions:

• Who are you speaking to?
• What do they care about? 
• How do they fit into your speech’s purpose? 

Understanding the answers to these questions will help you prepare a speech that resonates with your target audience – the very people who will hear your message. Additional details such as their age, background, interests, and level of knowledge about your topic will help you tailor your speech accordingly.

Consider the previous example of writing a speech for your friend’s wedding. Your target audience in this case might consist of people from all ages and backgrounds who share a commonality: they love and care for the newly wed couple. They are there to witness a celebration of love, and want to be part of the couple’s special day. Therefore, as you prepare for your speech, you need to consider the audience and what you can say that will resonate with them.

Audience analysis plays a vital role in tailoring your speech to help reach your listeners. You can use strategies such as empathy mapping techniques , you can get more insight into your audience’s perspectives, thoughts, feelings, actions, pains, and gains. This understanding allows you to craft a speech that speaks directly to their interests and concerns which helps increase audience engagement.

Once you’ve determined your speech purpose and target audience, you can move on to the next step of the speech preparation process. 

#2 – Narrow Down Your Message

Sometimes, it can get overwhelming when you start to think of what to write. Maybe you don’t know exactly what you want to say, or how to say it. Or maybe you have an idea of your speech’s overall message, but you don’t know how to communicate it. 

Regardless of your situation, it’s important to get any and all ideas out first through a process of brainstorming. Then, once you’ve added all of your ideas to paper, you can prioritize the most important ones. 

Just like an effective conversation or presentation, a speech must have a central theme, or core message.

What is the keway you want your audience to remember after your speech?

The goal is to decide on one central core message, so you can build up your speech around it. 

Then, you can begin to craft a compelling message with clear significance. This will help you to captivate your audience and convey your ideas effectively.

Once you have your central message defined, you can start brainstorming which elements to include that help build that message. Here are some examples:

• Engaging anecdotes: Share personal stories or relatable experiences to connect with your audience on a deeper level and make your message memorable.
• Impactful quotations: Integrate quotes from reputable sources or well-known figures that support your key points and add credibility to your message.
• Emotional appeal: Appeal to the emotions of your audience by evoking feelings of empathy, joy, or even urgency to make your message resonate and leave a lasting impression.
• Credible research: Gather evidence like facts, statistics, quotes, or anecdotes to substantiate your points.

Once you’ve done that, it’s time to move on to the next step. 

#3 – Polish the Structure and Organization

Now that you have most of your main ideas formulated, you have to consider the right placement of your content so that everything flows coherently.

The key is to help your audience follow along, so they can understand what you’re trying to say in your speech. The last thing you want is a speech that doesn’t have clear flow, or feels jumbled. This is the easiest way to lose your audience’s attention!

Writing a well-structured speech is crucial for effectively conveying your message and engaging your audience from the start.

Begin by outlining your speech, including your clear topic, purpose, and main points to guide your content arrangement. Ensure that your speech flows smoothly by incorporating clear transitions between ideas and emphasizing your main points.

Organize your content in a logical sequence to help your audience follow along easily. Structuring your speech in a coherent manner won’t only keep you on track but also aid in delivering your key messages effectively. By creating a solid framework for your speech, aligning it with its purpose, and maintaining a logical flow of information, you can effectively convey your message and engage your audience’s attention.

Here are some common speech structure formats: 

• Chronological: Organize your speech in a sequential order, following a timeline or series of events.
• Problem-Solution: Present a problem or challenge, then propose solutions or ways to address it.
• Cause and Effect: Discuss the causes leading to certain effects or outcomes, or vice versa.
• Topical: Group information by topics or themes, presenting each one separately.
• Comparative: Compare and contrast different ideas, concepts, or perspectives within your speech.

Remember that a well-organized speech sets the stage for a successful delivery and helps you make a lasting impact on your listeners.

Once your structure and organization is outlined, you can combine everything and begin the writing process. As you write and refine your speech, use clear and concise language. Avoid jargon and complex sentences that your audience might not understand.

Once you have a draft you can work with, move on to the next step!

#4 – Prepare Your Speech’s Opening and Ending

To captivate your audience from the start and leave a lasting impact, mastering the art of crafting a strong opening and ending is essential. 

Don’t underestimate the power of your opening and closing remarks. For many speeches, these lines are the equivalent of a “first and last impression” on your audience, so it’s important to take your time refining them. 

Your opening and ending should be written AFTER you’ve structured and organized your content – so don’t skip this process!

When preparing your speech’s opening and ending, keep in mind the following key points:

• Use an attention grabber: Begin with a compelling anecdote, a thought-provoking question, or a surprising fact to immediately capture the audience’s interest and curiosity.
• Leave a lasting impression: Your ending should summarize key points concisely, reiterate the main message, and leave the audience with a strong call-to-action or a memorable quote that resonates with them.
• Create connection: By using storytelling, personal experiences, or emotional appeals in both the opening and ending, you can establish a deeper connection with your audience, making your speech more relatable and impactful.

You might have ideas for more than one opening and closing statement – that’s okay! If that happens, try to narrow your selection down to two ideas. You can let your draft “simmer” and get insight and opinions from close family and friends that you practice your speech on. 

#5 – Master Rehearsal and Delivery

Once your speech is 90% written, it’s time to start practicing your rehearsal and delivery with your internal network of family and friends. Ideally, your practice audience should consist of your target audience, so that you can get the most effective and relevant feedback.

When preparing for a speech, prioritize thorough rehearsal and confident delivery to engage your audience effectively. Start by incorporating vocal exercises to warm up your voice and improve clarity. Pay attention to your body language, ensuring it’s open, confident, and matches your message.

Building confidence through positive affirmations and visualizing a successful delivery can help calm nerves. Utilize rehearsal techniques like practicing in front of a mirror, recording yourself, or seeking feedback from a friend. Remember to focus on key points rather than memorizing the entire speech to maintain authenticity.

When it comes to delivery, maintain good eye contact, vary your pace for emphasis, and use gestures to emphasize key points. Remember to breathe and pause when needed to allow the audience to digest information. By following these tips, you can deliver a compelling speech that resonates with your audience.

To summarize, here are some tips to master your speech rehearsal: 

• Practice in front of others: Get feedback and overcome any anxieties.
• Practice Regularly: Dedicate consistent time to rehearse your speech, ideally multiple times leading up to the event.
• Practice out loud: This helps you refine your delivery, timing, and flow.
• Record yourself: Use audio or video recording tools to capture your rehearsals and review them for improvement.
• Time yourself: Practice delivering your speech within the allotted time to ensure it fits the allocated slot.
• Focus on delivery: Pay attention to your tone, pace, and body language while rehearsing to enhance your delivery.
• Memorize key points: Memorize the key points or main ideas of your speech to maintain a natural flow and connection with your audience.
• Seek feedback: Ask trusted friends, family members, or colleagues to provide constructive feedback on your delivery and content.
• Rehearse in different settings: Practice your speech in various environments to adapt to different acoustics and audience sizes.

Tip #1 –  Manage your nerves

Sweaty forehead, shaky voice, stuttering, and word stumbling… we all know the feeling of being nervous during a presentation. And unfortunately, it’s not easy to hide nerves once the physiological response sets in, meaning your audience can pick up on your anxiety. It’s okay to be nervous, but you want to prevent yourself from being too nervous that your audience can pick up on your nervousness and anxiety. 

The good news? You can learn how to calm down before a presentation and avoid stage fright.

Here are some tips to combat nerves when preparing for a speech:

• Take deep breaths: Slowing down your breathing can help calm your nerves.
• Visualize success: Imagine yourself delivering a confident and impactful speech .
• Focus on your message: Remember, your passion and knowledge about the topic can overshadow any anxieties as long as you can stay focused.

Tip #2 –  Prepare delivery aids (optional)

A delivery aid, often referred to as a visual aid or presentation aid, is any supplementary material used by a speaker during a speech or presentation to enhance the audience’s understanding and engagement. These aids can take various forms, including slides, charts, graphs, props, videos, or handouts. The primary purpose of delivery aids is to complement the verbal delivery of the speaker and reinforce key points or concepts being discussed. If you’re incorporating technical concepts into your speech, or trying to explain scientific or abstract points, delivery aids can be helpful. 

Common types of delivery aids for a speech:

• Slides: Presentation software like PowerPoint or Keynote allows speakers to create slides with text, images, and multimedia to support their speech.
• Visuals: Charts, graphs, diagrams, and infographics can visually represent data or concepts for easier understanding.
• Props: Physical objects or models can be used as props to illustrate points or add a tactile element to the presentation.
• Videos: Short video clips or animations can be integrated into the speech to demonstrate processes, showcase examples, or tell a story.
• Handouts: Printed materials such as handouts, worksheets, or summaries can provide additional information or resources for the audience to reference during or after the speech.

Tip #3 – Choose your speech outfit (and rehearse in it!)

When choosing what to wear for a speech , it’s important to consider professionalism, comfort, and appropriateness for the occasion. 

Your outfit should convey confidence, professionalism, and respect for the audience. It should also align with the tone and formality of the event. Choose attire that makes you feel comfortable and confident, allowing you to focus on delivering your speech effectively.

Here are some tips for choosing what to wear for your speech presentation: 

• Dress Professionally: Choose attire that reflects the formality of the event and conveys professionalism. Opt for well-fitted clothing in classic styles and neutral colors so you can look polished and put-together.
• Prioritize Comfort: While it’s essential to dress professionally, make sure your outfit is comfortable to wear for an extended period. Avoid clothing that is too tight, restrictive, or uncomfortable.
• Consider the Audience and Venue: Take into account the audience demographics and the setting of the event when selecting your outfit. Aim to dress in a way that’s respectful and appropriate for the audience while also considering factors such as the venue’s dress code and climate.
• Minimize Distractions: Avoid clothing with loud patterns, flashy accessories, or overly revealing styles that could distract the audience from your message. Opt for simple, understated attire that allows the focus to remain on your speech and delivery.
• Pay Attention to Grooming: Don’t forget to pay attention to grooming details such as hair, nails, and hygiene. Ensure your appearance is neat and tidy, and consider factors such as makeup and accessories to enhance your overall look without being distracting.
• Test Your Outfit: Before the event, try on your outfit and practice moving and speaking in it to ensure it’s comfortable and doesn’t restrict your movements. Make any necessary adjustments or alterations ahead of time to avoid last-minute wardrobe issues.
• Bring a Backup: As a precaution, consider bringing a backup outfit or accessories in case of any wardrobe malfunctions or unexpected changes in plans. This’ll give you peace of mind and ensure you’re prepared for any unforeseen circumstances on the day of the event.

You’ve laid the groundwork for a successful speech preparation journey. By understanding your purpose and audience, crafting a compelling message, organizing your content effectively, and practicing diligently, you’re well on your way to delivering a memorable and impactful speech.

Embrace the challenge, stay focused, and remember that the key to success lies in your dedication and commitment to delivering an effective, impactful speech that gets your core message across.

And don’t lose sight of what matters throughout the journey: Your speech matters, and you have the power to impact many lives with your message. No matter what happens, your efforts and persistence in overcoming any obstacles when it comes to preparing and delivering your speech will make it all worthwhile.

Good luck on your speech preparation endeavors!

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How to write a speech that your audience remembers

Whether in a work meeting or at an investor panel, you might give a speech at some point. And no matter how excited you are about the opportunity, the experience can be nerve-wracking . 

But feeling butterflies doesn’t mean you can’t give a great speech. With the proper preparation and a clear outline, apprehensive public speakers and natural wordsmiths alike can write and present a compelling message. Here’s how to write a good speech you’ll be proud to deliver.

What is good speech writing?

Good speech writing is the art of crafting words and ideas into a compelling, coherent, and memorable message that resonates with the audience. Here are some key elements of great speech writing:

• It begins with clearly understanding the speech's purpose and the audience it seeks to engage. 
• A well-written speech clearly conveys its central message, ensuring that the audience understands and retains the key points. 
• It is structured thoughtfully, with a captivating opening, a well-organized body, and a conclusion that reinforces the main message. 
• Good speech writing embraces the power of engaging content, weaving in stories, examples, and relatable anecdotes to connect with the audience on both intellectual and emotional levels. 

Ultimately, it is the combination of these elements, along with the authenticity and delivery of the speaker , that transforms words on a page into a powerful and impactful spoken narrative.

What makes a good speech?

A great speech includes several key qualities, but three fundamental elements make a speech truly effective:

Clarity and purpose

Remembering the audience, cohesive structure.

While other important factors make a speech a home run, these three elements are essential for writing an effective speech.

The main elements of a good speech

The main elements of a speech typically include:

• Introduction: The introduction sets the stage for your speech and grabs the audience's attention. It should include a hook or attention-grabbing opening, introduce the topic, and provide an overview of what will be covered.
• Opening/captivating statement: This is a strong statement that immediately engages the audience and creates curiosity about the speech topics.
• Thesis statement/central idea: The thesis statement or central idea is a concise statement that summarizes the main point or argument of your speech. It serves as a roadmap for the audience to understand what your speech is about.
• Body: The body of the speech is where you elaborate on your main points or arguments. Each point is typically supported by evidence, examples, statistics, or anecdotes. The body should be organized logically and coherently, with smooth transitions between the main points.
• Supporting evidence: This includes facts, data, research findings, expert opinions, or personal stories that support and strengthen your main points. Well-chosen and credible evidence enhances the persuasive power of your speech.
• Transitions: Transitions are phrases or statements that connect different parts of your speech, guiding the audience from one idea to the next. Effective transitions signal the shifts in topics or ideas and help maintain a smooth flow throughout the speech.
• Counterarguments and rebuttals (if applicable): If your speech involves addressing opposing viewpoints or counterarguments, you should acknowledge and address them. Presenting counterarguments makes your speech more persuasive and demonstrates critical thinking.
• Conclusion: The conclusion is the final part of your speech and should bring your message to a satisfying close. Summarize your main points, restate your thesis statement, and leave the audience with a memorable closing thought or call to action.
• Closing statement: This is the final statement that leaves a lasting impression and reinforces the main message of your speech. It can be a call to action, a thought-provoking question, a powerful quote, or a memorable anecdote.
• Delivery and presentation: How you deliver your speech is also an essential element to consider. Pay attention to your tone, body language, eye contact , voice modulation, and timing. Practice and rehearse your speech, and try using the 7-38-55 rule to ensure confident and effective delivery.

While the order and emphasis of these elements may vary depending on the type of speech and audience, these elements provide a framework for organizing and delivering a successful speech.

How to structure a good speech

You know what message you want to transmit, who you’re delivering it to, and even how you want to say it. But you need to know how to start, develop, and close a speech before writing it. 

Think of a speech like an essay. It should have an introduction, conclusion, and body sections in between. This places ideas in a logical order that the audience can better understand and follow them. Learning how to make a speech with an outline gives your storytelling the scaffolding it needs to get its point across.

Here’s a general speech structure to guide your writing process:

• Explanation 1
• Explanation 2
• Explanation 3

How to write a compelling speech opener

Some research shows that engaged audiences pay attention for only 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Other estimates are even lower, citing that people stop listening intently in fewer than 10 minutes . If you make a good first impression at the beginning of your speech, you have a better chance of interesting your audience through the middle when attention spans fade. 

Implementing the INTRO model can help grab and keep your audience’s attention as soon as you start speaking. This acronym stands for interest, need, timing, roadmap, and objectives, and it represents the key points you should hit in an opening. 

Here’s what to include for each of these points: 

• Interest : Introduce yourself or your topic concisely and speak with confidence . Write a compelling opening statement using relevant data or an anecdote that the audience can relate to.
• Needs : The audience is listening to you because they have something to learn. If you’re pitching a new app idea to a panel of investors, those potential partners want to discover more about your product and what they can earn from it. Read the room and gently remind them of the purpose of your speech. 
• Timing : When appropriate, let your audience know how long you’ll speak. This lets listeners set expectations and keep tabs on their own attention span. If a weary audience member knows you’ll talk for 40 minutes, they can better manage their energy as that time goes on. 
• Routemap : Give a brief overview of the three main points you’ll cover in your speech. If an audience member’s attention starts to drop off and they miss a few sentences, they can more easily get their bearings if they know the general outline of the presentation.
• Objectives : Tell the audience what you hope to achieve, encouraging them to listen to the end for the payout. 

Writing the middle of a speech

The body of your speech is the most information-dense section. Facts, visual aids, PowerPoints — all this information meets an audience with a waning attention span. Sticking to the speech structure gives your message focus and keeps you from going off track, making everything you say as useful as possible.

Limit the middle of your speech to three points, and support them with no more than three explanations. Following this model organizes your thoughts and prevents you from offering more information than the audience can retain. 

Using this section of the speech to make your presentation interactive can add interest and engage your audience. Try including a video or demonstration to break the monotony. A quick poll or survey also keeps the audience on their toes. 

Wrapping the speech up

To you, restating your points at the end can feel repetitive and dull. You’ve practiced countless times and heard it all before. But repetition aids memory and learning , helping your audience retain what you’ve told them. Use your speech’s conclusion to summarize the main points with a few short sentences.

Try to end on a memorable note, like posing a motivational quote or a thoughtful question the audience can contemplate once they leave. In proposal or pitch-style speeches, consider landing on a call to action (CTA) that invites your audience to take the next step.

How to write a good speech

If public speaking gives you the jitters, you’re not alone. Roughly 80% of the population feels nervous before giving a speech, and another 10% percent experiences intense anxiety and sometimes even panic. 

The fear of failure can cause procrastination and can cause you to put off your speechwriting process until the last minute. Finding the right words takes time and preparation, and if you’re already feeling nervous, starting from a blank page might seem even harder.

But putting in the effort despite your stress is worth it. Presenting a speech you worked hard on fosters authenticity and connects you to the subject matter, which can help your audience understand your points better. Human connection is all about honesty and vulnerability, and if you want to connect to the people you’re speaking to, they should see that in you.

1. Identify your objectives and target audience

Before diving into the writing process, find healthy coping strategies to help you stop worrying . Then you can define your speech’s purpose, think about your target audience, and start identifying your objectives. Here are some questions to ask yourself and ground your thinking : 

• What purpose do I want my speech to achieve? 
• What would it mean to me if I achieved the speech’s purpose?
• What audience am I writing for? 
• What do I know about my audience? 
• What values do I want to transmit? 
• If the audience remembers one take-home message, what should it be? 
• What do I want my audience to feel, think, or do after I finish speaking? 
• What parts of my message could be confusing and require further explanation?

2. Know your audience

Understanding your audience is crucial for tailoring your speech effectively. Consider the demographics of your audience, their interests, and their expectations. For instance, if you're addressing a group of healthcare professionals, you'll want to use medical terminology and data that resonate with them. Conversely, if your audience is a group of young students, you'd adjust your content to be more relatable to their experiences and interests. 

3. Choose a clear message

Your message should be the central idea that you want your audience to take away from your speech. Let's say you're giving a speech on climate change. Your clear message might be something like, "Individual actions can make a significant impact on mitigating climate change." Throughout your speech, all your points and examples should support this central message, reinforcing it for your audience.

4. Structure your speech

Organizing your speech properly keeps your audience engaged and helps them follow your ideas. The introduction should grab your audience's attention and introduce the topic. For example, if you're discussing space exploration, you could start with a fascinating fact about a recent space mission. In the body, you'd present your main points logically, such as the history of space exploration, its scientific significance, and future prospects. Finally, in the conclusion, you'd summarize your key points and reiterate the importance of space exploration in advancing human knowledge.

5. Use engaging content for clarity

Engaging content includes stories, anecdotes, statistics, and examples that illustrate your main points. For instance, if you're giving a speech about the importance of reading, you might share a personal story about how a particular book changed your perspective. You could also include statistics on the benefits of reading, such as improved cognitive abilities and empathy.

6. Maintain clarity and simplicity

It's essential to communicate your ideas clearly. Avoid using overly technical jargon or complex language that might confuse your audience. For example, if you're discussing a medical breakthrough with a non-medical audience, explain complex terms in simple, understandable language.

7. Practice and rehearse

Practice is key to delivering a great speech. Rehearse multiple times to refine your delivery, timing, and tone. Consider using a mirror or recording yourself to observe your body language and gestures. For instance, if you're giving a motivational speech, practice your gestures and expressions to convey enthusiasm and confidence.

8. Consider nonverbal communication

Your body language, tone of voice, and gestures should align with your message . If you're delivering a speech on leadership, maintain strong eye contact to convey authority and connection with your audience. A steady pace and varied tone can also enhance your speech's impact.

9. Engage your audience

Engaging your audience keeps them interested and attentive. Encourage interaction by asking thought-provoking questions or sharing relatable anecdotes. If you're giving a speech on teamwork, ask the audience to recall a time when teamwork led to a successful outcome, fostering engagement and connection.

10. Prepare for Q&A

Anticipate potential questions or objections your audience might have and prepare concise, well-informed responses. If you're delivering a speech on a controversial topic, such as healthcare reform, be ready to address common concerns, like the impact on healthcare costs or access to services, during the Q&A session.

By following these steps and incorporating examples that align with your specific speech topic and purpose, you can craft and deliver a compelling and impactful speech that resonates with your audience.

Tools for writing a great speech

There are several helpful tools available for speechwriting, both technological and communication-related. Here are a few examples:

• Word processing software: Tools like Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or other word processors provide a user-friendly environment for writing and editing speeches. They offer features like spell-checking, grammar correction, formatting options, and easy revision tracking.
• Presentation software: Software such as Microsoft PowerPoint or Google Slides is useful when creating visual aids to accompany your speech. These tools allow you to create engaging slideshows with text, images, charts, and videos to enhance your presentation.
• Speechwriting Templates: Online platforms or software offer pre-designed templates specifically for speechwriting. These templates provide guidance on structuring your speech and may include prompts for different sections like introductions, main points, and conclusions.
• Rhetorical devices and figures of speech: Rhetorical tools such as metaphors, similes, alliteration, and parallelism can add impact and persuasion to your speech. Resources like books, websites, or academic papers detailing various rhetorical devices can help you incorporate them effectively.
• Speechwriting apps: Mobile apps designed specifically for speechwriting can be helpful in organizing your thoughts, creating outlines, and composing a speech. These apps often provide features like voice recording, note-taking, and virtual prompts to keep you on track.
• Grammar and style checkers: Online tools or plugins like Grammarly or Hemingway Editor help improve the clarity and readability of your speech by checking for grammar, spelling, and style errors. They provide suggestions for sentence structure, word choice, and overall tone.
• Thesaurus and dictionary: Online or offline resources such as thesauruses and dictionaries help expand your vocabulary and find alternative words or phrases to express your ideas more effectively. They can also clarify meanings or provide context for unfamiliar terms.
• Online speechwriting communities: Joining online forums or communities focused on speechwriting can be beneficial for getting feedback, sharing ideas, and learning from experienced speechwriters. It's an opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and improve your public speaking skills through collaboration.

Remember, while these tools can assist in the speechwriting process, it's essential to use them thoughtfully and adapt them to your specific needs and style. The most important aspect of speechwriting remains the creativity, authenticity, and connection with your audience that you bring to your speech.

5 tips for writing a speech

Behind every great speech is an excellent idea and a speaker who refined it. But a successful speech is about more than the initial words on the page, and there are a few more things you can do to help it land.

Here are five more tips for writing and practicing your speech:

1. Structure first, write second

If you start the writing process before organizing your thoughts, you may have to re-order, cut, and scrap the sentences you worked hard on. Save yourself some time by using a speech structure, like the one above, to order your talking points first. This can also help you identify unclear points or moments that disrupt your flow.

2. Do your homework

Data strengthens your argument with a scientific edge. Research your topic with an eye for attention-grabbing statistics, or look for findings you can use to support each point. If you’re pitching a product or service, pull information from company metrics that demonstrate past or potential successes. 

Audience members will likely have questions, so learn all talking points inside and out. If you tell investors that your product will provide 12% returns, for example, come prepared with projections that support that statement.

3. Sound like yourself

Memorable speakers have distinct voices. Think of Martin Luther King Jr’s urgent, inspiring timbre or Oprah’s empathetic, personal tone . Establish your voice — one that aligns with your personality and values — and stick with it. If you’re a motivational speaker, keep your tone upbeat to inspire your audience . If you’re the CEO of a startup, try sounding assured but approachable. 

4. Practice

As you practice a speech, you become more confident , gain a better handle on the material, and learn the outline so well that unexpected questions are less likely to trip you up. Practice in front of a colleague or friend for honest feedback about what you could change, and speak in front of the mirror to tweak your nonverbal communication and body language .

5. Remember to breathe

When you’re stressed, you breathe more rapidly . It can be challenging to talk normally when you can’t regulate your breath. Before your presentation, try some mindful breathing exercises so that when the day comes, you already have strategies that will calm you down and remain present . This can also help you control your voice and avoid speaking too quickly.

How to ghostwrite a great speech for someone else

Ghostwriting a speech requires a unique set of skills, as you're essentially writing a piece that will be delivered by someone else. Here are some tips on how to effectively ghostwrite a speech:

• Understand the speaker's voice and style : Begin by thoroughly understanding the speaker's personality, speaking style, and preferences. This includes their tone, humor, and any personal anecdotes they may want to include.
• Interview the speaker : Have a detailed conversation with the speaker to gather information about their speech's purpose, target audience, key messages, and any specific points they want to emphasize. Ask for personal stories or examples they may want to include.
• Research thoroughly : Research the topic to ensure you have a strong foundation of knowledge. This helps you craft a well-informed and credible speech.
• Create an outline : Develop a clear outline that includes the introduction, main points, supporting evidence, and a conclusion. Share this outline with the speaker for their input and approval.
• Write in the speaker's voice : While crafting the speech, maintain the speaker's voice and style. Use language and phrasing that feel natural to them. If they have a particular way of expressing ideas, incorporate that into the speech.
• Craft a captivating opening : Begin the speech with a compelling opening that grabs the audience's attention. This could be a relevant quote, an interesting fact, a personal anecdote, or a thought-provoking question.
• Organize content logically : Ensure the speech flows logically, with each point building on the previous one. Use transitions to guide the audience from one idea to the next smoothly.
• Incorporate engaging stories and examples : Include anecdotes, stories, and real-life examples that illustrate key points and make the speech relatable and memorable.
• Edit and revise : Edit the speech carefully for clarity, grammar, and coherence. Ensure the speech is the right length and aligns with the speaker's time constraints.
• Seek feedback : Share drafts of the speech with the speaker for their feedback and revisions. They may have specific changes or additions they'd like to make.
• Practice delivery : If possible, work with the speaker on their delivery. Practice the speech together, allowing the speaker to become familiar with the content and your writing style.
• Maintain confidentiality : As a ghostwriter, it's essential to respect the confidentiality and anonymity of the work. Do not disclose that you wrote the speech unless you have the speaker's permission to do so.
• Be flexible : Be open to making changes and revisions as per the speaker's preferences. Your goal is to make them look good and effectively convey their message.
• Meet deadlines : Stick to agreed-upon deadlines for drafts and revisions. Punctuality and reliability are essential in ghostwriting.
• Provide support : Support the speaker during their preparation and rehearsal process. This can include helping with cue cards, speech notes, or any other materials they need.

Remember that successful ghostwriting is about capturing the essence of the speaker while delivering a well-structured and engaging speech. Collaboration, communication, and adaptability are key to achieving this.

Give your best speech yet

Learn how to make a speech that’ll hold an audience’s attention by structuring your thoughts and practicing frequently. Put the effort into writing and preparing your content, and aim to improve your breathing, eye contact , and body language as you practice. The more you work on your speech, the more confident you’ll become.

The energy you invest in writing an effective speech will help your audience remember and connect to every concept. Remember: some life-changing philosophies have come from good speeches, so give your words a chance to resonate with others. You might even change their thinking.

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Elizabeth Perry, ACC

Elizabeth Perry is a Coach Community Manager at BetterUp. She uses strategic engagement strategies to cultivate a learning community across a global network of Coaches through in-person and virtual experiences, technology-enabled platforms, and strategic coaching industry partnerships. With over 3 years of coaching experience and a certification in transformative leadership and life coaching from Sofia University, Elizabeth leverages transpersonal psychology expertise to help coaches and clients gain awareness of their behavioral and thought patterns, discover their purpose and passions, and elevate their potential. She is a lifelong student of psychology, personal growth, and human potential as well as an ICF-certified ACC transpersonal life and leadership Coach.

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How to prepare your voice for a speech: Step-by-step guide

Hrideep barot.

• Body Language & Delivery , Presentation , Public Speaking

You step on the stage and are about to start your speech. As soon as you utter the first word you are shocked by your voice, all squeaky and hoarse, and you wonder what went wrong.

Maybe the reason is you forgot to prepare your voice!

Now, you might ask what is voice preparation? How can you possibly make your voice ready?

But, believe me, all the successful public speakers, politicians, news anchors, even singers, and anchors never skip this step!

They ensure that they pamper and protect their voice until the last minute of beginning their performance!

So get ready to embark on a journey with our step-by-step guide to develop your voice effectively!

Here is our schedule for preparing your voice!

1. Record Your Voice

2. analyze your recordings, 3. ask for feedback, 4. experiment with your vocal style, 5. train your voice, 6. practice, things to do to improve your voice before giving a speech.

• FAQ's on preparing voice

Examples of speeches with good vocal tonality

Before we proceed with the schedule, there might be some of you wondering: what is even the need to go through the steps? Just practice and perform it.

But here’s why you might be wrong.

Why is there a need to prepare your voice for a speech?

Even though you have a wonderful script, it does not mean that you will have a wonderful speech!

You need to take in all aspects of your performance, such as your vocals and your body language.

Just rehearsing your speech over and over will also not do.

This will do more bad than good. I’ll tell you why:

When I was a freshman at college, my friend and I decided to participate in the annual talent hunt competition.

We had a few rehearsals together, and we were good to go for our performance, which was on the next day.

But, my friend got nervous and she practiced way too many times, and she wasn’t even able to speak!

Our whole practice was fruitless, and eventually, she decided to withdraw her name from the competition.

Apart from this reason of worsening your voice, there a lot more reasons all mentioned in this article, so read till the end!

Now, let’s get started!

Your first step in developing your voice for your upcoming speech, presentation, or performance is to record your voice.

You can record it on your phone through a voice recorder or any other app.

At this point, just read out your speech or draft and record it.

Half of step one is completed!

Next, record an impromptu speech of 1-2 minutes. It doesn’t have to be related to your speech. Just talk about anything you feel like.

With this done, store both these set of recordings for our next step.

The second step is to analyze your previous recordings.

For this step you would require a paper and a pen, along with your recording.

As you hear your first recording, take down points on how you speak when you read a script. For example, what are the characteristics or qualities of your voice?

Is your voice deep or high pitched? Is it clear or has an airy or breathy quality? Is it soft or loud?

Make points for the tone of your voice as well.

Do you speak in a monotonous manner or with vocal variations? Do you speak too fast or too slow?

For your next recording, you simply observe how you speak.

So, in this case, make note of what kind of fillers words you use in between, such as “uh…” or “um…” or do you happen to use repetitive words or phrases.

When you analyze all of these, you will have the qualities, characteristics, vocal patterns, and the strengths and weaknesses of your voice.

This step will make you understand your voice better, so that you can work on them constructively.

The third step is to ask for a feedback about your voice from others.

They can be your colleagues, friends or family members.

Ask them what quality or characteristic they like and dislike about your voice.

Note down all the points given by people.

This will help you comprehend and paint a real picture of your voice, so you can practice and improve them effectively.

This step will give you the exposure and freedom to experiment with various styles of speaking and come up with one you are most comfortable and confident in.

You will need the help of your notes for this step.

Now, the key is to try out different styles. This means you would speak in a way completely opposite to what is the notes.

So if you have written that your voice is high pitched, then try out reading in a lower pitch than usual or if you use too many filler words, use as less as possible.

This step will help you find your natural voice and you will understand what difference does a mere change in the quality of voice does to your speech.

Once you find your comfortable voice pattern and type, the next step is to train them.

For this step, first you need to do a warm up.

Warming up your vocal cords

Just like how you do a quick warm-up before exercising or practicing your dance routine, you have to warm up your vocal cords too to avoid straining them and becoming hoarse.

Vocal warm up usually begin with relaxing your body first.

So, do some basic body stretches, such as slow head rolls, followed by arm rotations clockwise then anti-clockwise, and so on.

If you want to pace up a bit, do spot jogging or march for a minute, followed by knee lifts.

For a better understanding, follow this clip:

Did you feel a rush of blood and energy after doing this warm-up? I certainly did!

Vocal warm-up

So, let’s get to the vocal warm-up.

A vocal warm up can be anywhere around 5-10 minutes long and is the most fun part of all the steps!

You can begin by making a sound while rolling your tongue, known as tongue trill, or hum in ascending or descending pitch.

You can also chant a word and sustain that note for as long as you can.

Vocal exercises

Now that your body and vocal cords are all warmed up, let’s begin with our vocal exercises.

Doing these will make your vocal cords stronger and resist losing voice, which would be a nightmare!

Hence, don’t skip this step.

Some of the important exercises you can do include sustaining notes, trying to sustain a word or sound for as long as you can.

The other involves breathing exercises such as breath holds and deep breathing, to strengthen your lungs for better air flow during speaking, giving your voice a pleasant tone.

Let’s look and follow the demonstration below for a better understanding:

That was an intense vocal workout!

Now, let’s explore some tongue exercises.

Tongue exercises

These will help in speech articulation, make your voice clearer sounding, and make your pronunciations clearer!

You can start with stretching your tongue as far out as you can and notch up with a note!

The key is to make your tongue stronger, hence try to hold it in the same position!

You can do tongue holds, such as sticking your tongue to the roof of your mouth or pointing it outwards, keeping your tongue as straight as possible, for 10-15 seconds each.

Now you may begin with practicing your speech without straining your voice whatsoever!

This step is the most important step of the whole routine, so make sure to take out ample time to practice your speech.

Maintain a video or an audio journal, where you can go back and introspect the strong and weak elements of your voice.

Remember that your vocal cords are made of muscles, which means you can develop them if you regularly exercise them correctly.

Hence, take out at least an hour to practice and rehearse how you are going to use this powerful tool.

However, do not overdo your practice!

This can have disastrous consequences! Instead of developing your cords, you might strain and damage them!

How to talk without losing your voice?

There can be situations where you may lose your voice or experience a bad throat.

What to do in such situations? Don’t panic! Stress will make the vocal cords more tensed than before, increasing the issue!

If you have some time, say 2-3 days, rest your voice and don’t use them at all or to the lowest extent possible.

You probably overworked your voice or practiced the wrong way.

What you can do is engage in relaxing exercises such as body stretches, which will relax your mind and body for a speedy recovery.

You can also drink some homemade herbal tea or warm water to fasten the recovery process.

How to stop straining your voice while giving speech?

If your voice is still not healed, practice a bit on the day before your speech, and take the help of a microphone, so that even if you speak softly, your voice will be heard by others.

If your voice is back to normal, practice for about an hour, and just perform similarly on stage. Don’t talk too loudly as it will strain your voice.

It is essential to warm up before your speech as you did before in your practice sessions.

Loosen up your body and take deep breaths to keep your mind and body calm and relaxed.

You can follow along any vocal warm-ups of your choice. Here are some recommendations:

• 5-minute vocal warm-up: Jacob Vocal Academy
• 5 vocal warm-up exercises before meetings, speeches, and presentations: Vanessa Van Edwards

2. Be hydrated

It is essential that you drink sufficient water, not just to ace your performance but to stay healthy as well.

Drinking water an hour before your performance and a few sips during your speech would keep your vocal cords hydrated and you will avoid cracking your voice.

But how much water is the right amount for your body?

Look at the chart below:

You can easily understand how much water is sufficient by locating your weight and the number of glasses.

So, if your weight is 54, 6 glasses of water are the minimum amount you should consume daily.

What other fluids to consume before speech?

Although water would be more than sufficient to hydrate your throat and vocal chords, you can keep other options as well.

Drinking warm herbal tea or infused water may help in getting that soothing and clear voice.

However, avoid beverages such as coffee, cold drinks or alcohol as they stick to your throat longer, affecting your vocal quality.

3. Eat healthy

Eating healthy food is a major contributor to maintain a healthy voice and body.

A balanced diet and having foods such as garlic, ginger, citrus fruits, green veggies, etc., lower the rate of mucus formation in your throat.

Hence, consuming these foods would keep your throat and voice clear and healthy.

However, avoid consuming oily or sweet food, dairy products, cold food such as ice-cream or cola, etc., since these foods increase the production of mucus, making you more vulnerable to throat infections and cold.

Eating at least 2-3 hours before your performance will give you the required energy and also keep you away from burping on stage!

4. Sleep well

Sleeping is the most crucial thing to do if you want to give your best on stage.

However, most of us are either too excited or too nervous the night before our performance, and we end up sleeping for only 3-4 hours.

This causes us to feel tired and binge-eat fast food snacks to gain energy, but end up feeling even more tired.

It can also cause forgetting important details and most importantly, your speech!

To avoid having this nightmare, it is better to have a sleep schedule a week before your speech and follow it religiously.

Avoid exposure to any kind of light including your phone at least an hour before your bedtime.

You can do relaxing activities like body stretches or some meditation to have a better quality of sleep.

FAQ’s on preparing voice

This section will expose you to different situations which require a slightly different approach when it comes to preparing your voice.

We curated some of these here as follows:

How to clear your throat before a speech and have a clear voice?

Although we all have unique voices, some voices sound more clearer than husky or baritone ones.

We can’t change our voice types, but we can certainly learn and adapt to sound more clearer.

Here are some tips to have a clear voice:

• Avoid straining your voice, such as over practicing, or speaking too loudly to maintain a healthy and clear voice.
• Have a proper schedule for drinking water and avoid carbonated drinks.
• Engage in a vocal warmup just before the speech to clear up your voice.
• Ensure that you let your voice rest, to avoid inflammation.
• Eat a balanced and healthy diet, avoiding too oily or spicy food.
• Drink herbal tea or warm drinks to clear up your voice.

To clear your throat right before you go on stage for your speech, a few of the exercise mentioned here will help you keep your throat clear. For example, before going for your speech, purse your lips, don’t smile and hum a note to yourself for a few seconds. It will help relax your vocal chords.

Also, simply keeping yourself hydrated (preferably with warm water will do just fine in keeping your throat clear.

How to prepare your voice for a presentation?

This is the most commonly asked question, and is indeed a very important one as it concerns the work environment.

Your voice quality and delivery can determine whether you would get selected for your dream job or promotion, as well as progressing your organization through business pitches.

Your focus should be on making your voice clear and loud for showing that you have the confidence and capability of fulfilling your job requirements.

Hence, practice more on the diction and pronunciations, and make sure to have a slightly polite tone in your voice.

How to prepare your voice for a public speaking event?

You might be asked to give a lecture as a guest in colleges or organizations, or are going to host a show.

For such situations, your voice has to be expressive and not neutral and monotonous, especially for giving lectures.

If you want to explain a concept well, have some variations in your vocal tone and pitch to have an expressive voice.

Practice speaking clearly and slowly when giving a lecture.

As for hosting an event, avoid any rudeness in speech or manner, and try to have a polite tone all through the event.

You should also try to make your voice seem energetic, and have a good vocal warmup before the event.

How to prepare your voice for an audition?

For all the budding artists over there, I have been in your place!

From my experience, practice till you make it, be it for a voice-over artist, vocalist, actor, etc.

However, do not overdo it!

You will lose your voice or not be able to perform your level best as a result!

Also, while practicing don’t just try to emulate the artist, add your own flavor to increase your chances of getting selected!

The keys to a great conversation: Celeste Headlee

This small but effective speech by Celeste Headlee is a good example of vocal tonality.

She uses clear speech and the words pronunciations are not muffled, but clean and clear.

The tone also raises at appropriate places and gives a conversational feel to her speech.

The next outbreak? We’re not ready: Bill Gates

Now, some of you might have come across this video during the lockdown of how Bill Gates actually predicted the pandemic!

This speech might have awed you and wanted to hear more at the end of the speech, but the secret is his voice!

He is well-known for his speeches and all have a common trait: his narrative tone.

He uses his voice effectively to present his ideas in the form of a story, which mesmerizes many, including me!

 Let the paint dry: Daniel J. Watts

This is one of the most unique type of speech that I’ve ever come across.

While watching his speech, you might get a bit confused of what the speech is about.

But later when you join the dots, the picture will be clearer.

The technique of bringing a prop, along with body language is incredibly used in his presentation.

Most importantly, the voice makes a difference. He uses a lot of pauses without making it seem awkward, and his storytelling complements the speech a great deal.

So, these were the steps that I personally found helpful and would recommend to anyone who is about to give a speech, presentation, or any performance!

Just be sure to keep the things to do before giving your speech in mind before going on stage.

Hope you gained some knowledge through this article!

Check out our related articles:

How to Present without Sounding like a Robot?

What To Do Right After A Speech: A Step-By-Step Guide

6 Ways You Can Evaluate Your Own Presentation

Enroll in our transformative 1:1 Coaching Program

Schedule a call with our expert communication coach to know if this program would be the right fit for you

7 Keys to Emcee Like a Pro: Unlock Your Hosting Potential

8 Ways to Rise Above the Noise to Communicate Better

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